2 weeks Ago By Justin Chadwick
North Melbourne coach Darren Crocker has labelled Jasmine Garner a generational player, saying her selflessness and hot form are helping drive the team forward. The unbeaten Kangaroos are just one win away from securing the minor premiership after beating Adelaide by eight points in a hard-fought contest at Norwood Oval on Friday night. Garner starred in the 6.
5 (41) to 4.9 (33) win, tallying 27 disposals, five clearances, eight tackles, 529m gained and two goals. It marked the seventh consecutive game Garner has scored a goal - a difficult feat in AFLW ranks.
The 30-year-old is on track to earn a seventh consecutive All-Australian jumper this season, and she’s also a four-time best-and-fairest winner at North Melbourne. Garner’s hot form has put North Melbourne, with nine wins and a draw from 10 games, in the box seat to win their maiden AFLW premiership. “She’s a generational player,” Crocker said.
“I’ll look back in a number of years’ time and say I was extremely lucky to coach probably one of the best players - if not the best player - to come into the competition at its infancy. “The beautiful thing about Jas is she’s so humble. She’s so driven, she just keeps working hard.
“She just wants to keep getting better. It’s not so much for herself, but it’s to try to take this team forward. “That’s what we all love about her.
She’s a great person and as we all know, a terrific player.” Crocker was proud of the way his team held off Adelaide’s fightback. North Melbourne’s 20-point lead was whittled down to eight points after the Crows kicked two quick goals to start the final term, but the Roos held firm from that point with some stout defence.
“I think there’s been a lot of growth in our group this season,” Crocker said. “We were here (in Adelaide) in the second last game of last season, and I distinctly remember in this pocket not being organised enough, and Adelaide kicked a goal to win by (three) points. “I think the players have grown so much, knowing what to do in what situations, whether we’re behind and need to score quickly or whether we’re in front and just need to lock the game down.
“I thought the way our team fought out that last quarter, defending stoutly, I thought they did a really good job.” North Melbourne are guaranteed a top-two berth, and they will lock up top spot and the minor premiership if they beat lowly Gold Coast next week in the final round. AAP.
