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AAP
AAP
Sport
Roger Vaughan

Macdonald tag awaits Garner in AFLW semi

North Melbourne star Jasmine Garner is ready for some close attention in their AFLW semi-final. (Hamish Blair/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The one certainty about Jasmine Garner's AFLW semi-final on Saturday is that she will have Meg Macdonald for close company.

A fortnight ago, Richmond had a massive midfield win when Macdonald put a hard tag on the North Melbourne star.

With Garner's considerable influence subdued, Richmond drew the round-10 match to snatch fourth spot and the double chance from North and Geelong.

The Macdonald v Garner rematch will be the most anticipated match-up of the Punt Rd clash and again looms as pivotal.

Geelong backed their midfield and did not tag Garner last Saturday night - North won the elimination final by two points.

"I look forward to the challenge. It's finals footy, I'm sure we'll have a few match-ups around the ground," Garner said of going up against Macdonald again.

"I back our midfielders and our system in and hopefully we get the job done.

"I will take it as a compliment that she wants to run around with me - that's footy.

"I will just work as I can and do what I can for the team. We'll see what happens, we might try a few different things."

Garner's importance was underlined in the last few days when she won the AFL Coaches Association player of the season award.

That puts an even bigger target on Garner's back, but she said that could free up a midfield teammate to have a greater influence.

"Wtih our midfield, we have great depth," she said.

"If someone gets more attention than usual, you can let one of the other girls off the chain.

"If I cop a little bit more attention, the likes of Ash (Riddell), Mia (King) and Gemma (Bruton) might be able to have a bit more impact.

Garner said it was not only her who learned a lot from the round-10 match at Arden St.

"As a team, we probably didn't get it on our terms early and they got a jump on us," she said.

"We had our opportunities and missed a few easy goals as well.

"Hopefully this week, we can get things looking our way a bit earlier."

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