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Unbeaten North Melbourne are the table-toppers at the midpoint of the AFLW season but a large pack is on the chase.

A SNAPSHOT OF WEEK FIVE OF THE AFLW SEASON

THEY SAID IT: "It was stressful ... just do what you can and hope for the best." Brisbane's Taylor Smith on her dramatic match-winning goal against Adelaide.

THE MOMENT: Brisbane are down by three points late in the last quarter against the Crows when the Lions' spearhead Smith outstretches Adelaide's Zoe Prowse to take an overhead mark. Smith, with 100 seconds remaining, converts from 25 metres out to give the Lions a famous win in the clash of the powerhouses.

STAT THAT MATTERS: One. The number of unbeaten sides in the competition. North Melbourne sit atop the table with five wins and a draw - their last four wins coming in a 14-day span.

TALKING POINT: AFLW hierarchy have copped plenty of criticism for their condensed schedule. But it has resulted in a condensed ladder: at the midpoint of the season, just six premiership points separate the Kangaroos from seventh-placed West Coast.

PLAYER OF THE ROUND: In an elongated round, North's Ash Riddell produces two stunning displays in four days. She collected 35 disposals and laid seven tackles in a 69-point thumping of Carlton and followed up with 24 touches, nine tackles and seven clearances in a 12-point triumph over Richmond.

INJURIES: E Kearney (NM, hamstring), O O'Dwyer (Bris, dislocated shoulder), M Shelvin (Rich, ankle), A McKay (Carl, foot), Amy McDonald (Geel, hamstring), K Surman (Geel, concussion), M Cann (Coll, shoulder), S Van De Heuval (Ess, knee), S Heath (Melb, shoulder), D East (Frem, shoulder), A Newman (GWS, knee).

WHAT'S NEXT: Fourth-placed Hawthorn, fifth-placed Richmond and sixth-placed Fremantle have a golden chance to solidify their finals claims. The Hawks meet winless Gold Coast (18th), the Tigers host Collingwood (17th) and the Dockers play Geelong (14th).