North Melbourne Werribee will have to do it the hard way in the Victorian Football League women’s finals.
The minors premiers opened their finals campaign on Saturday in a qualifying final with Collingwood.
The Kangaroos entered the match on the back of eight straight wins with their last loss coming back in round six to the Magpies.
On Saturday, the Magpies led by five points at quarter time before taking control of the game in the second quarter.
They kicked four goals to one to lead by 25 points at the main break.
The Kangaroos were able to slightly eat into the lead in the third quarter with the margin 16 points at the final break.
The fight back continued early in the last quarter.
North Melbourne Werribee kicked the first goal of the last quarter through Tahlia Meier to give it some hope with the margin back to nine points.
Collingwood was able to respond with one of their own and then do enough to come away with a 7.3 (45)-4.8 (32) win.
Meier finished with two goals for the Kangaroos, both kicked in similar fashion with both coming from free kicks.
Alana Barba stood up in a stoppage-heavy contest, finishing with a game-high 28 possessions and nine tackles.
She also had 20 contested possessions and 10 clearances.
The Kangaroos will now face Williamstown in a knockout semi final this weekend.
The Seagulls beat the Sandringham Zebras in their elimination final.
Collingwood will face the Box Hill Hawks for a spot in the grand final in the other final this weekend.
