AFLW 2024: Jasmine Garner still improving, says Kangaroos skipper

North Melbourne captain Emma Kearney says Jasmine Garner is poised for her best season yet as rivals tip her to finally claim an elusive AFLW best and fairest medal.

Eight club captains backed Garner to win the league’s top individual honour after the Roos superstar again failed to impress the umpires with a statistically dominant campaign in 2023.

Garner finished equal seventh in last season’s count after sensationally missing the top 10 the previous year despite driving North Melbourne up the AFLW ladder.

The Kangaroos were also the club most tipped to reach the grand final, with Kearney saying it was “really pleasing” to have earnt the respect of their rivals with their runner-up effort last year.

“We’ve always been there or thereabouts, we probably just haven’t been able to match it with some of the better teams,” Kearney said.

“For us, we’re coming into the season knowing we’re a good side, but we’ve also got a target on our backs now, considering how our season went.”

Kearney said the Roos had come back from their off-season in “terrific condition” despite their grand final disappointment, and Garner was leading from the front during an intense training program.

“We’re a no-fuss group, we’ve got one of the best players in the comp in Jas Garner who only cares about the team,” she said.

“She doesn’t care about herself, there’s no fanfare with her, and it’s probably drip-fed throughout the whole team that we just get along with our work.

“There’s going to be a little bit more pressure on us, no doubt, but it’s no different to some of the other good teams that we’ll be contending with.”

Kearney said a switch to day training sessions had made a noticeable impact on players including the most senior members, saying even Garner was making “slight improvements”.

“It’s just really pleasing that our older players are not content with just where they’re at – they want to keep getting better as well, and we’re seeing slight improvements in those players, even though it’s hard to believe Jas Garner can get any better, but she continues to develop her game,” Kearney said.

“Previous seasons, we’ve all been coming in from work, we’re tired from work and then we go to training.

“You don’t get home until 10 or 10.30, and then you’re getting up early for work the next day, so I think having day sessions has allowed the players to feel a bit fresher coming into training.

“The quality of the sessions are better, and then there’s the chance to recover better as well, so it just means the quality can be maintained.”