Rampant North Melbourne have charged into a second consecutive AFLW grand final after steamrolling Port Adelaide by 57 points. In sweltering conditions at Ikon Park, the Kangaroos booted three goals inside the opening seven minutes to set up their 12.6 (78) to 2.9 (21) preliminary final victory in front of 4,387 fans.

After a heartbreaking loss to Brisbane in last year’s decider, the minor premiers will host next Saturday night’s clash at Ikon Park as red-hot favourites after an ominous dismantling of a young Power team.

As expected, star North midfielders Jasmine Garner (25 disposals, eight clearances, six tackles and a goal) and Ashleigh Riddell (27 disposals, five clearances) were prolific around the ball. Powerhouse forward Vikki Wall snagged three goals, while Alice O’Loughlin, Tahlia Randall, Kate Shierlaw and Taylah Gatt kicked two majors apiece.

North skipper Emma Kearney successfully returned from a hamstring injury, but was rested for most of the final quarter.

The Power’s Piper Window (15 disposals, eight tackles), Abbey Dowrick (18 disposals) and Shineah Goody battled hard even as their side looked lost for answers while the Roos smashed them around the ball. Port kept fighting and Gemma Houghton snagged their deserved first goal early in the final term, but Wall launched her third goal, this time from outside 50, to put an exclamation mark on North’s dominant victory.

- with Australian Associated Press

Q4. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 12.6.78 v Port Adelaide 2.9.21

Abbey Dowrick almost gets the another Power goal straight from the centre bounce but the midfielder’s shot drifts wide. Port lock the ball into their forward half, and all that remains is for North to chase the highest score in an AFLW final (and for the Power to perhaps avoid being on the receiving end of the record). Another goal will do it but the Roos have a star-studded bench for the remaining moments.

Q4. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 12.6.78 v Port Adelaide 2.8.20

Katelyn Pope adds the Power’s second and it is just reward for the young side battling out the final term as well as the last minutes of their hugely promising season.

Q4. 4 mins remaining: North Melbourne 12.6.78 v Port Adelaide 1.8.14

Vikki Wall receives a handball from Jenna Bruton and bombs away from outside 50. The shot sails over Power defender Angela Foley in the goalsquare and takes one bounce through for a major. Emma Kearney is wrapped up in cotton wool on the bench but there are still signs that the rest of the Roos want to finish this full of running.

Q4. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.6.72 v Port Adelaide 1.8.14

The sting has gone out of this game for the red-hot Roos and the cool change is coming to Ikon Park. Swirling winds and light showers have replaced the sweltering heat but Tahlia Randall reminds us how this game started with a strong contested mark. The set shot narrowly misses.

Q4. 7 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 1.8.14

Matilda Scholz has battled away tirelessly in the ruck against the Roos triple threat of tall timber. The young Power ruck has 26 hit-outs and three clearances but has perhaps understandably been unable to have the same impact on the game as she did in a starring role last week.

Q4. 10 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 1.8.14

The floodgates are almost opening for the Power but Dowrick and Lamb fail to take their chances. Port are on top around the stoppages though the Roos onballers have little reason to get their head over the footy now with a grand final spot already booked.

Q4. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 1.6.12

The long wait is over as Gemma Houghton surges out of a stoppage inside the forward 50 and boots the Power’s first goal of the afternoon. They might only be playing for pride now, but the young side has started brightly in this final term.

Q4. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 0.6.6

The Power come out firing with the first three inside 50s of the term. Piper Window gets the clearance while Abbey Dowrick, who has got better as the game has gone on, sets up a Power attack.

Q3. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 0.6.6

The Power lock the ball in their forward half without threatening to score. Repeat stoppages fail to open up the Roos defence but the shut down any further danger with a rushed behind. And incredibly, given this match started in extreme heat, it has started to rain. Melbourne weather, hey!

Q3. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 11.5.71 v Port Adelaide 0.5.5

The Roos midfield win a hot ball inside the centre square then carve up the Power to bring the ball into the forward 50. Bella Eddy is first to get her hands on the ball, finds Kate Shierlaw streaming towards goal over the back of the Power defenders. The tall forward could have her third but shares the spoils under no pressure for Gatt to run into an open goal.

Q3. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 10.5.65 v Port Adelaide 0.5.5

As if the Roos need any more positive news today, Tess Craven is back on the field and looking to cause havoc in the forward half. The Power edge their way forward but are unable to pick out a teammate within range and the ball trickles over the boundary line for a throw-in. From the stoppage the ball is tapped through for a behind, as Port climb closer to overtaking the lowest score in a final.

Q3. 8 mins remaining: North Melbourne 10.5.65 v Port Adelaide 0.4.4

Vikki Wall has two goals in 20 seconds as the Roos win the centre clearance and the bullocking forward pounces on a bouncing ball. The Roos are closing in on the highest score in an AFLW final after the Crows piled on 82 points against the Swans last season. The Power are out to avoid the lowest score come finals time, which currently stands at seven points.

Q3. 9 mins remaining: North Melbourne 9.5.59 v Port Adelaide 0.4.4

The Roos make the Power pay for failing to take their chances at the other end as Garner wins yet another clearance from a stoppage inside 50 to find Riddell on the outside. Another slick handball ends with Wall to nail a shot from 40m out directly in front.

Q3. 12 mins remaining: North Melbourne 8.5.53 v Port Adelaide 0.4.4

The Power find repeat entries and almost break their duck with a couple of half-chances near goal. Shineah Goody misses the first but Katelyn Pope goes closer with a clever kick off the ground barely a metre out from the goalline on a sharp angle. The ball finds a way through a pack of players but sneaks around the wrong side of the post.

Q3. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 8.5.53 v Port Adelaide 0.2.2

The Roos surge away with the first clearance to find Taylah Gatt within range but the goalsneak’s snap fades away for a behind.

Q2. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 8.4.52 v Port Adelaide 0.1.1

The Kangaroos forwards are doing the damage on the scoreboard but their defence is stepping up whenever required. But the defenders have a rare moment of doubt to leave Caitlin Wendland to gather inside 50 and take the Power’s first proper shot on goal for the half, but the right foot snap slices to the right for a behind.

Q2. 3 mins remaining: North Melbourne 8.4.52 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

Gemma Houghton sets up the Power for their best look at goal all afternoon but he kick floats a little too far to land in Libby Birch’s hands in the goalsquare. The Roos turn defence into attack with blistering ball movement around the wing, as Shierlaw gets on the end of another forward 50 entry. The towering forward gathers on the bounce and snaps her second.

Q2. 6 mins remaining: North Melbourne 7.4.46 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

Libby Birch takes her moment to shine as the Roos’ recruit cleans up a rare Power forward 50 entry. The 28-4 differential is ongoing worry for the Power which they’ll have to address to be any hope of working their way into this contest.

Q2. 8 mins remaining: North Melbourne 7.4.46 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

Vikki Wall swarms to chase down the Power defenders as they look to clear around the boundary as is awarded a free kick. The Irish women, who stepped out of the Roos’ last AFLW campaign to chase an Olympics rugby sevens dream with her home nation, sets the tone. But rather than taking a tricky shot from near the boundary, Wall picks out Shierlaw 15m away for an uncontested mark. The key forward slams the set shot into the post.

Q2. 11 mins remaining: North Melbourne 7.3.45 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

Kate Shierlaw takes her turn with a strong contested mark off the boot of Jas Garner – who else? – and goal from 30m out directly in front. But Tess Craven sends a scare around the Roos camp as the young forward is crunched in a marking contest as Goody closes her down under a high ball. Craven is helped from the field but looks OK.

Q2. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 6.3.39 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The goals keep flowing for the Roos as Taylah Gatt joins the party. The zippy forward boots her first of the day and third of the season.

Q2. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 5.3.33 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Kangaroos pick up where they left off with an early clearance as star onballer Jasmine Garner launches a dart to Tahlia Randall inside 50. The key forward finishes off the work to extend the Roos lead.

Q1. 1 min remaining: North Melbourne 4.2.26 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

A 50m penalty sends Jenna Bruton from the centre wing into the Roos’ forward 50. The Power didn’t that after their best few minutes of the match so far. They can breathe a sigh of relief as the Kanagroos winger slices the shot for a behind.

Q1. 2 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Power take it slow and steady to gradually move the ball forward. A second inside 50 for the term and repeat stoppages give some respite but the Roos clear the danger as Birch finds Riddell on the half-back flank.

Q1. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Kangaroos are making all the running as they perhaps seek to blow the Power away early in the sweltering heat. O’Loughlin is lively inside 50 again and finds Emma King within range but the Roos key forward sprays her shot for a behind.

Q1. 5 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.1.25 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Kangaroos are making all the running as they perhaps seek to blow the Power away early in the sweltering heat. O’Loughlin is lively inside 50 again and finds Emma King within range but the Roos key forward sprays her shot for a behind.

Q1. 7 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Power slow the game down as they look to stay in touch with the Roos after the minor premiers have made an electric start at Ikon Park. Shineah Goody gets her hands on the footy but the Kangaroos continue to dominate territory.

Q1. 10 mins remaining: North Melbourne 4.0.24 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Roos forwards are queueing up as O’Loughlin is first to arrive under high ball just 20m from goal with Randall the closest player to her. The pacey forward dobs another and the Kangaroos look unstoppable. They lead 27-7 in disposals, 6-1 for inside 50s, and by four goals after barely that many minutes.

Q1. 12 mins remaining: North Melbourne 3.0.18 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Kangaroos are red hot and the Power look shellshocked. Alice O’Loughlin finds space in the forward pocket to race onto a bouncing ball, opens up a gap on the trailing defender and snaps truly. The Roos have three from as many inside 50s in a blistering start.

Q1. 13 mins remaining: North Melbourne 2.0.12 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

The Roos have hopped away to a devastating start as Ash Riddell picks out Tahlia Randall inside the forward 50. The key forward calmly kicks truly from 40m away. The early signs are worrying for the Power.

Q1. 14 mins remaining: North Melbourne 1.0.6 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

Kangaroos powerhouse Vikki Wall takes a strong mark on the lead just outside 50 then bombs the ball into the goalsquare. Jasmine Garner reads it best and takes an uncontested mark just metres out, then slots the set shot. A hot start from the Roos!

Q1. 15 mins remaining: North Melbourne 0.0.0 v Port Adelaide 0.0.0

We’re underway at Ikon Park with the temperature hovering around 36 degrees. The Power’s emerging ruck Matilda Scholz gets the first tap but the Kangaroos onballers swarm to propel the ball forward.

The winner of this clash between the undefeated North Melbourne and rising Port Adelaide will face one of the traditional powerhouses – Brisbane or Adelaide – in the grand final next Saturday night.

We’ll be live blogging the second preliminary final from 6.30pm AEST/7.30pm AEDT tonight, but in the meantime the players are lining up and getting ready to roll at Ikon Park. Let’s get into it!

The AFL has turned to their heat policy for this match with the temperature pushing into the high 30s. Breaks at quarter-time and three-quarter time will now be eight minutes each, rather than the usual six, while half-time will be four minutes longer at 18 minutes.

The Power have become the surprise packets of the season after knocking off the Hawks last week, as their budding talents play with a freedom and few pressures to climb to within reach of an unlikely spot in the decider.

Here is more on the young upstarts from Port Adelaide: