Demons rally and Kangaroos cruise into AFLW prelims

Melbourne has stormed home with the last five goals of the game to beat Geelong by four points in their AFLW qualifying final.

After Demons star Paxy Paxman put them in front with a snapped goal, Chloe Scheer marked and had a shot at goal for Geelong with 20 seconds left.

But the Geelong forward missed and the Demons won 8.8 (56) to 8.4 (52) on Saturday at Princes Park.

In the later game, North Melbourne booked its prelim ticket with a commanding 7.7 (49) to 1.7 (13) win over Carlton.

Melbourne kicked the only three goals of the last quarter after looking well out of the game in the third term.

Geelong onballer Georgia Prespakis was easily best afield in the first half, but Melbourne midfielder Liv Purcell helped spark the comeback and they had 34 possessions apiece.

It was the first time Geelong's Mick Stinear has gone up against his old club since the 2022 premiership coach left Melbourne at the end of last season.

Melbourne now has the week off, while Geelong's semi-final opponent will be the winner of Sunday's Sydney-Western Bulldogs elimination final.

The threat of lightning delayed the start of the game on Saturday by 10 minutes, but Melbourne's changeable spring weather meant much of the game was played in sunshine.

The Cats kicked clear in the second term, with four goals to one and led by 22 points at the main break. They twice led by 28 in the third quarter, before the Demons hit back.

With Purcell and 100-gamer Tyla Hanks leading the way, the Demons kicked four goals to three and cut the margin to 12 points at the last change.

Alyssa Bannan's accurate snap in the first 30 seconds of the final quarter brought the Demons to within a goal. Prespakis kicked a behind, then Bannan kicked her second.

Paxman put Melbourne in front for the first time since the first quarter with her goal at 17 minutes.

Injury concern in big Roos win

Two-time North Melbourne premiership player Alice O'Loughlin is a significant casualty out of the Kangaroos' comprehensive AFLW qualifying final win.

O'Loughlin was emotional on the bench after she hurt her knee in the last quarter of Saturday's 36-point win over Carlton at Ikon Park.

She was in agony and needed two trainers to help her off the field after Gab Pound caught her in a tackle.

It was the one negative for the two-time defending premiers, who withstood a game challenge from the Blues in the first quarter.

The usual suspects starred for the Kangaroos — Jasmine Garner racked up 31 possessions, and fellow midfielder Ash Riddell had a game-high 33.

Key defender Harriet Cordner was mighty for Carlton, especially early, but eventually there was little she could do when the dam wall broke.

Carlton will next host the winner of Sunday's elimination final between Gold Coast and Hawthorn.