Tigers snap losing run with win over EaglesBy Ronny Lerner and Roy Ward
The Age
February 29, 2022A first-quarter blast has helped Richmond emphatically snap their five-game AFLW losing streak with a 23-point win against West Coast in an entertaining contest in Perth on Saturday evening.
After winning the season opener convincingly against St Kilda by 38 points, the Tigers’ finals hopes took a big hit with consecutive losses to Melbourne, Fremantle, Gold Coast, the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne.
But Ryan Ferguson’s team managed to stop the rot against the Eagles.
Richmond began in dominant fashion, booting the first four goals of the game, including two in four minutes from Tayla Stahl, to take a commanding 26-point lead at quarter-time after holding the Eagles scoreless in the opening term. It would prove to be the decisive quarter of the game.
In the end, the Tigers dominated the territory battle with 15 more inside 50s (40-25) and also enjoyed comfortable advantages in disposals (215-182), contested possessions (107-93), clearances (30-22) and scoring shots (18-10).
Former No.1 pick Ellie McKenzie was sensational for the Tigers, setting up the win in the first half and finishing with 18 touches (10 contested) and a goal, while her partner in crime Monique Conti was also influential with 24 disposals (16 contested), nine tackles, five clearances and a major. Stahl and captain Katie Brennan (15 disposals) booted five goals between them.
Emma Swanson and Dana Hooker were once again the shining lights for the Eagles with a combined 46 touches (24 contested) and 11 clearances. Swanson also booted two goals and laid seven tackles, while Aimee Schmidt snagged three majors.
The shell-shocked hosts came out in better shape after the first change, thanks to goals from captain Swanson and Schmidt, but they were cancelled out by star Richmond duo Conti and McKenzie.
By the time Brennan booted her second goal early in the third term, Richmond’s lead had ballooned to 35 points, and from there, the Eagles struggled to make significant inroads, despite the best efforts of Swanson and Hooker.
A strong final quarter from West Coast, in which Schmidt kicked two of her three goals, added respectability to the scoreboard from an Eagles point of view.
RICHMOND’S NEED FOR SPEEDRichmond’s speed was perhaps best illustrated late in the first quarter when a blistering chain of possessions featuring Conti, McKenzie, Tessa Lavey, Emelia Yassir and Brennan finished up with Christina Bernardi, who kicked the easy goal from the goal square to put the Tigers 26 points to the good.
CONTI ALL CLASSEarly in the second quarter Conti showed her considerable class when she received the handball from Maddy Brancatisano in the forward line, sidestepped West Coast’s Courtney Guard and dobbed a beauty from the pocket to swiftly restore her side’s four-goal advantage shortly after Swanson kicked West Coast’s first major.
STAHL THE PICKPOCKETWest Coast’s fate was sealed early in the final quarter when Niamh Kelly committed a critical error deep in defence by kicking it backwards to Ashton Hill. Stahl was wise to the plan and charged towards the ball before taking a courageous chest mark backing back with the flight while crashing into Hill. Stahl completed the brilliant play by slotting her third major from 15 metres out to put Richmond up by 36 points.
RICHMOND 4.2 6.5 8.7 10.8 (68)
WEST COAST 0.0 2.2 4.2 7.3 (45)
GOALS
Richmond: Stahl 3, Brennan 2, Bernardi, Conti, McKenzie, Macdonald, Makur Chuot.
West Coast: Schmidt 3, Swanson 2, Bullas, Gibson.
BEST
Richmond: McKenzie, Conti, Brennan, Seymour, Lavey, Stahl.
West Coast: Swanson, Hooker, Schmidt, Gooch.
VENUE
Mineral Resources Park.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/toogood-proves-too-clinical-as-bulldogs-down-cats-20220217-p59xg1.html
