Pies lock in finals spot without much Tiger troubleSarah Black
womens.afl
12 March 2022COLLINGWOOD will officially play finals in 2022, locking up sixth spot after comfortably accounting for Richmond by 38 points in the final round of the home and away season.
It closes the door on the Western Bulldogs, who were holding out hope an upset win over Brisbane and a Pies loss would result in an unlikely finals berth.
Collingwood was just a step above Richmond the entire day, with its class by foot particularly on show when entering 50 in the 6.11 (47) to 1.3 (9) victory.
Both sides were missing valuable midfielders – the Pies without Bri Davey and Brit Bonnici, and the Tigers losing Sarah Hosking and Tessa Lavey – but it was the absence of spearhead Katie Brennan that was most keenly felt by Richmond, losing its structure in attack.
Ruby Schleicher, Lauren Butler and Jordy Allen patrolled Collingwood's backline with ease, with Schleicher's run-and-carry an important part of the Pies' win.
Bec Miller and Sarah D'Arcy battled hard in defence, but the weight of inside 50s (40-21) and overall disposals (270-176) proved too much.
Jaimee Lambert had 20 disposals to half-time and finished with 31 and eight tackles, while Mikala Cann was also strong in the middle.
Collingwood key forward Sabrina Frederick kicked off the scoring in the third half with a classy snap against her former side, while the lively Emelia Yassir broke through for the Tigers' first and only major about 10 minutes later.
Christina Bernardi's day finished in the third term with what appears to be a serious left knee injury.
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COLLINGWOOD 1.3 2.5 4.7 6.11 (47)
RICHMOND 0.1 0.3 1.3 1.3 (9)
GOALS
Collingwood: Alexander 2, Molloy, Moloney, Frederick, James
Richmond: Yassir
BEST
Collingwood: Lambert, Cann, Schleicher, Sheridan, Butler
Richmond: Conti, McKenzie, Miller, Brancatisano
INJURIES
Collingwood: Nil
Richmond: Bernardi (knee)
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