North Melbourne have brushed off Hawthorn's post-game snub of Jasmine Garner's 100th game as the rampant Kangaroos prepare to face the Hawks for the second time in seven days.
Riding into Friday night's qualifying final on a record 24-game winning streak, North's rematch with the Hawks comes with added spice.
Hawthorn coach Daniel Webster called the club's decision not to stay on the field for Garner's milestone guard of honour a "mistake" after the Kangaroos' thumping win last week.
The absence of the Hawks players was referenced by North forward Alice O'Loughlin on social media, saying "where you at?"
Former Hawthorn player Kate McCarthy called it a "really poor look".
North coach Darren Crocker and star veteran Emma Kearney both insisted they had moved on.
"It was probably just a slip up by them," Crocker said.
"I'm sure it wasn't meant in a disrespectful manner.
"Sure, someone probably should have taken control of that.
"But it is what it is. It's happened and we move on."
Some Hawthorn players even reached out to Garner following the match.
"The Hawks change rooms are on the other side of the oval (in Frankston)," Kearney said.
"It wasn't a deliberate thing by them.
"It was just probably they've just come off a loss, and they're probably just focusing on next week.
"Someone like Jas, she actually loved it.
"It was just North Melbourne.
"We had all our fans there, all our staff and players there sending her off.
"She's a star of the game, but it doesn't faze her at all."
After breaking through for their first AFLW premiership last year, North have become an unstoppable juggernaut this season.
But Crocker knows rivals will be desperate to end the Kangaroos' dominance and stop them becoming the first AFLW team to win back-to-back flags.
"We've had the bullseye on our back since we started winning games last year," Crocker said.
"Been pretty much the hunted every week for two seasons.
"But we just talk about that's a mindset thing.
"We just try to bring our identity, play our way each week, and teams can come as hard as they want at us, but we know that our best footy can hold up."
After being rested last week, premiership players Vikki Wall and Kate Shierlaw will return for the Kangaroos.
In a boost for Hawthorn, star Irishwoman Áine McDonagh has re-signed for another two years until the end of 2027.
