Simple message driving North for AFLW grand final

In the immediate wake of last Sunday's epic preliminary final win over Adelaide, North players and staff snapped up merchandise from the club shop.

The simple T-shirt design in their shopping baskets features a kangaroo and the logo "just you wait and see", taken from the club song.

But a four-word directive from coach Darren Crocker - "just get s**t done" - provides a better explanation for their barnstorming finals series.

In the aftermath of their three-point loss to Adelaide late last month, North went to work on how they close out tight games.

"We've watched the vision of it over and over and over again. And it was hard to relive," defender Jasmine Ferguson said of that round-nine loss to the Crows.

"Then we've trained it, just to know what to do in that situation. And we've termed it 'just get s**t done' - Crock has given us the leeway, he knows and has the confidence in us.

"Crock does like his one-liners, or something simple that everyone can remember.

"He's always been good at coming up with them and it always sticks in your head."

In the last two minutes of Sunday's preliminary final, Adelaide did not look like breaking through the wall that North set up across their half-forward line.

It means the Kangaroos know if this weekend's grand final against the Brisbane Lions at Ikon Park is tight, they can indeed get it done.

"We knew - we all had belief - we could do it," said defender Sarah Wright.

"We just needed to stick to our system and it will come, and it showed on the weekend.

"Going into this weekend, if it is a close game we all have belief and back each other that we can get through it."

North started the finals series viewed as a step below the AFLW's 'big three' - Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.

First they monstered Melbourne in a qualifying final to turn the series on its head, then Crocker noted after Sunday they've won two out of three.

One of the keys to Sunday's frenetic last couple of minutes was the total teamwork, with players normally further up the ground, such as Kate Shierlaw and Mia King, mighty in their efforts.

Then there's captain Emma Kearney, the only AFLW player to make all eight All-Australian teams.

"She is the most reliable person in our team. She is just a true legend," Ferguson said.

"She does not want to lose. We play some tackling games ... you do not want to be in the opposite team to her, because she will take your head off.

"We have all copped a brutal spray from her, but it's always for the best, she means it from the best possible part of her heart."

Australian Associated Press