Port Melbourne endured a 13-point loss at the hands of North Melbourne in Round 9 of the VFLW last Saturday.

A perfect autumn afternoon graced ETU Stadium, but Port were defeated by the Kangaroos; 3.4 (22) to 4.11 (35).

Borough Olivia Barton led the disposal-getters once again with 22, whilst Kaitlyn O’Keefe finished with 17.

Kate Adams was solid with 14 touches and four tackles, while Sarah Dargan continued her consistent run of form with 13 disposals and six tackles.

Dom Carruthers and Jorja Livingstone played their first game in the Red and Blue, the pair finishing with twelve and seven disposals respectively.

A third debutant, Olivia Cicolini, was the beneficiary when Kate Dudley was a late withdrawal. Cicolini unfortunately suffered a nasty head clash in the first quarter, but thankfully played out the game.

Port Melbourne VFLW Coach Sean Buncle remarked that the debutants were "fantastic players with plenty of upside", it was now just a matter of the trio "understanding the Borough’s systems". 

Port Melbourne were the early bolters, as Jess Joyce snapped through the first goal of the game amongst heavy traffic. Emily Harley then scored her first of the day, a long-range goal off the back of a fast-moving Borough counte-rattack. North hit back through Eliza McGrath, with Port taking a slender seven-point lead into quarter-time. 

The second quarter was goalless for Port, whereas North heaped pressure on the scoreboard. Sarah Skinner goaled halfway through the term for the Kangas, restoring parity in the contest for the first time since Joyce’s goal. If not for wayward goalkicking, North Melbourne could have been further in front than their slim four-point half-time lead. 

The script was repeated during the third quarter, with Port suffering another goalless stanza. Emily Paterno kicked her first goal, helping to extend North’s lead to ten at the final change. 

The Borough started the final quarter strongly, with Bridie Winbanks setting the tone in the middle. The withdrawal of Kate Dudley meant Winbanks bore the brunt of the ruck work, however her repeat efforts around the stoppages muscled Port back into the contest.

A trademark Claire Dyett bullet inside-50, followed by a fifty-metre penalty resulting in Emily Harley's second goal of the day, helped reduce the deficit to four points with the majority of the last quarter still to play.

However, North was out to a 10-point margin once again, as Emily Paterno’s long-range shot from outside the arc dribbled its way through. Port Melbourne had no reply, with the contest plateauing and North eventually running out 13-point victors. 

Port Melbourne will be looking to return to the winners' list next week, when they meet the Cats at ETU Stadium from 1.10pm next Saturday, April 30.

Port Melbourne 3.4.22 def by North Melbourne 4.11.35