AFLW history was rewritten in Cairns as Hawthorn delivered the upset of the season, toppling North Melbourne 32–25 to end the Kangaroos’ record-breaking 32-game win streak. The Hawks overcame adversity, including the loss of their captain to injury, to notch their biggest win since joining the women’s league in 2022.
Record Streak Comes to a Shocking Halt
North Melbourne entered Friday night’s clash with a formidable record, riding a 32-match unbeaten run stretching back to the 2023 grand final. In that time, the Kangaroos had swept the 2024 and 2025 AFLW seasons, setting an all-time win streak record that spanned across the AFL, VFL, and AFLW.
Facing Hawthorn in the heat and humidity of Cairns, North Melbourne seemed on track to defend their streak, holding a 10-point lead at the main break. However, the contest shifted dramatically in the second half, as the determined Hawks fought back and applied relentless pressure.
Hawthorn’s Finest Hour
The Hawks’ 4.8 (32) to 3.7 (25) victory will be remembered as their finest moment since entering the AFLW in 2022. Playing without their captain, Emily Bates, who suffered an ACL rupture the previous week, Hawthorn relied on team spirit and tenacity.
Midfielder Jasmine Fleming stepped up with a best-on-ground performance, gathering 25 disposals and setting the tone for Hawthorn’s persistent effort, especially in the contested situations. The team’s ability to respond when trailing at halftime reflected their mental resilience.
Dramatic Climax and Standout Performers
The Hawks’ comeback gained momentum in the third quarter when Mikayla Williamson scored the only goal, slicing North’s lead to just three points. Four consecutive behinds in the final term saw Hawthorn seize the lead for the first time since the opening quarter. Then, Cairns local Jacqueline Dupuy added a crucial goal at the nine-minute mark, giving the Hawks a rare seven-point advantage.
Though North countered through Blaithin Bogue late in the quarter, Hawthorn’s Lucy Wales sealed the game with a composed snap inside the last two minutes. After the siren, Dupuy described the feeling as 'unreal,' while she praised Wales’ composure in pressure situations and highlighted the collective joy shared among the players following the win.
Friday’s total was also North Melbourne’s lowest score since 2023, underscoring Hawthorn’s suffocating defensive effort.
What the Result Means
Hawthorn’s victory sends them just outside the AFLW top four and adds fresh intrigue to the league as finals approach. For North Melbourne, it marks their first defeat since the 2023 grand final, drawing a close to one of the most dominant streaks in the history of the code.
Looking ahead, Hawthorn faces Geelong in six days’ time, buoyed by confidence and momentum. For North Melbourne, the result will serve as both a setback and a call to regroup, as the competitive landscape of the AFLW tightens.
