AFLW R10: Richmond vs North Melbourne @ Arden St, Sun. Oct. 30

[one-eyed]

Double trouble: Tigers lock in top-four spot with North draw

Sarah Black
womens.afl
30 October 2022

NORTH MELBOURNE       1.1     1.3     2.8     3.9     (27)
RICHMOND                    2.1     3.1     4.1     4.3     (27)

GOALS
North Melbourne: Riddell, Abbatangelo, Bruton
Richmond: McKenzie 2, Wakefield, Reid

BEST
North Melbourne: M.King, Bruton, Riddell, E.King, Garner
Richmond: McKenzie, Conti, Egan, Sheerin, Macdonald

INJURIES
North Melbourne: O'Shea (head knock)
Richmond: Nil

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Kim Rennie (HS protocols) replaced in selected side by Charli Granville
Richmond: Nil

Crowd: 3147 at Arden Street Oval

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RICHMOND and North Melbourne have played out a thrilling draw, with the Tigers subsequently locking in fourth spot and the double chance, while the Kangaroos have finished eighth as the home and away season comes to an end.

A Courtney Wakefield shot just dropped short and was rushed through for a behind to tie scores up at 27-apiece in the final minute of the game, with Richmond recording 4.3 and a wasteful North Melbourne kicking 3.9.

After controlling vast swathes of the first quarter – including a nice set shot from Stella Reid, who is growing in confidence game-by-game – Richmond gave up the easiest of North Melbourne goals in the dying seconds, conceding three marks inside 50 in one passage of play and a straightforward Ash Riddell major.

The Roos noticeably lifted their pressure in the second quarter, with multiple smothers early, but were unable to make much headway on the scoreboard.

North Melbourne owned the third term, with Richmond panicking and unable to clear its defensive half, but the Roos' inaccuracy issues returned at a horrible time, kicking 1.4 and one out on the full (1.5 for the quarter), before the Tigers whisked it downfield for Ellie McKenzie's second.

Jenna Bruton snapped a goal to take the lead early in the fourth, and behinds were exchanged until the final siren.

Kim Rennie (HS protocols) was a late withdrawal in what appeared to be a significant blow to the Roos' ruck stocks, but Emma King stood tall with 27 hitouts, receiving support from Vikki Wall.

Unheralded Richmond tagger Meg Macdonald played a crucial role on Jasmine Garner, holding one of the AFLW best and fairest favourites to five disposals and zero clearances in the first half.

Garner's influence lifted as the game progressed, finishing with 13 disposals, four inside 50s and one clearance.

The absence of skipper Emma Kearney (knee soreness) was also noticed across half-back, but Mia King and Bruton performed admirably throughout the game, and Hannah Bowey made a composed debut in defence.

McKenzie was simply superb for Richmond, while Monique Conti and Grace Egan worked hard around the contest.

The much-needed return of Tahlia Randall
Key forward Randall has been an important structural part of North Melbourne's forward line this season, and it looked as if she had suffered a nasty ankle injury in the second term. After taking a low, diving mark, she got to her feet with ease, went to handball and her right leg gave way. After leaving the ground with trainers, she came back six minutes later and played out the game.

The battle for the AFLW best and fairest
Secondary to the race for top four was the individual honours potentially up for grabs, with two of the favourites in Garner and Conti going head to head. In terms of the umpire votes for the day, it's unlikely Garner will feature in the top three overall players, while Conti may pinch a vote or two.

Up next
Both sides will be playing away finals – Richmond will take on Brisbane (and have a second chance in its back pocket) and North Melbourne will play Geelong, with times and dates to be announced on Sunday night.

https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2022/4733/nmfc-v-rich#matchreport

[one-eyed]

Team Stats:

Disposals:    221 - 202 .... ( contested: 112 - 111 )
Kicks:          116 - 134
Handballs:   105 - 61
Clearances:   19 - 26
Inside 50s:    22 - 35
Marks in50:     2 - 9
Tackles:        74 - 59
Hitouts:        21 - 27
Frees:           14 - 16 

Individual stats:

Conti               21 disposals (  9k, 12h), 2 marks, 9 tackles.
Egan               20 disposals (  8k, 12h), 2 marks, 6 tackles.
Miller              17 disposals (13k,   4h),     -       , 2 tackles.
Sheerin           17 disposals (10k,   7h), 1 mark  , 2 tackles.
McKenzie         16 disposals (  6k, 10h),     -      , 5 tackles,       -       , 2 goals.
Seymour         16 disposals (  7k,   9h), 1 mark  , 6 tackles, 12 hitouts. 
Lavey              14 disposals (  7k,  7h), 1 mark  , 2 tackles.
Dempsey         13 disposals (11k,  2h), 2 marks, 2 tackles.
J.Hosking         12 disposals (  6k,  6h),     -      , 3 tackles.
Brancatisano    10 disposals (  2k,  8h),     -      , 3 tackles.
Brennan          10 disposals (  6k,  4h), 3 marks, 1 tackle  ,       -      ,     -     , 2 behinds.
Graham            8 disposals (  6k,  2h), 1 mark.
Reid                 8 disposals (  5k,  3h), 2 marks, 4 tackles,       -       , 1 goal.
Kiely                7 disposals (  3k,  4h),      -      , 1 tackle.
Wakefield         7 disposals (  5k,  2h), 1 mark  , 2 tackles, 1 hitout  , 1 goal.
Lynch               6 disposals (  4k,  2h), 1 mark.   
MacDonald        5 disposals (  1k,  4h),      -      , 7 tackles.
McClelland        5 disposals (  4k,  1h), 1 mark  , 4 tackles.
Cox                  4 disposals (  2k,  2h),     -      , 6 tackles.
Yassir               4 disposals (  1k,  3h),     -      , 7 tackles.
Kelly                 1 disposal  (  0k,  1h),      -      , 2 tackles,  8 hitouts.

https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2022/4733/nmfc-v-rich#playerstats

[Chuck17]

Two HTB rules today. How what that HTB against Egan?

North have been dropping the ball in the tackle all day and no free yet we are getting pinged even when we dispose of it correctly  .

Stuffing terrible umpiring

Well done tiger girls

[WilliamPowell]

Yassir was awesome pushing that through for a behind 

She was very smart which is rare in the girls league for some reason.
It was critical she knocked it over and she did. 

I’m still kinda shocked Wakefield didn’t make the distance.

No surprise, we were kicking into the wind in the last qtr

[WilliamPowell]

Best draw I've been to.

Great effort to get that draw

N0rt were the better side in the 2nd half

[one-eyed]

The Final Ladder of Season Seven


https://twitter.com/aflwomens/status/1586636938215567367

[one-eyed]

Ellie McKenzie's goals today: 

Slick stuff from the Tigers and McKenzie finishes.
https://twitter.com/aflwomens/status/1586579299754131456

McKenzie roves to perfection and gives the Tigers the lead once again.
https://twitter.com/aflwomens/status/1586590061981667328

[WilliamPowell]

I thought Meg MacDonald did a fantastic job on N0rt's best player Garner

Just a great team effort

Super proud of our women.

[one-eyed]

Ryan Ferguson's post-match presser:

Watch here: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1243504/aflw-r10-ferguson-post-match

"Even today, to be involved in this game where win or lose, we were fighting for a top-four spot in the last round - we haven't been involved in these sorts of games," said Tigers coach Ryan Ferguson.

"We're just trying to ride the momentum."

https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7962151/tigers-snare-aflw-double-chance-with-draw/

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For Richmond, Ellie McKenzie had a cracker, bursting out of stoppages and continually impacting play, finishing with 15 disposals and two goals, while Grace Egan was also prolific at the source and Eilish Sheerin impressive in both defensive and offensive work.

It was touted as a clash of the best-and-fairest favourites, but North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner and Richmond’s Monique Conti were both checked closely by the opposition. Garner, tagged by Meg McDonald, finished with 13 disposals, while Conti had 20.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/draw-is-enough-for-tigers-to-claim-top-four-spot-20221030-p5bu43.html

[Tigeritis™©®]

I thought Meg MacDonald did a fantastic job on N0rt's best player Garner

Just a great team effort

Super proud of women.

[one-eyed]

It was the seventh game in the Tigers’ season that was decided by 10 points or less, a fact that’s not lost on the coach.

“It was probably a fitting finale for us, the way the season’s gone,” Ferguson said.

“We’ve had so many close games and found a way to get over the line in them, and get over the line today in what we needed.

“I thought in the third quarter they turned the heat up on us… we had to hang on at times. We owned the first half and they owned the second half.”

In a tense and heavily contested match-up, Richmond got the upper hand early, with young superstar Ellie McKenzie playing a heavy hand in that.

She finished her day with two goals, the first of which came in the second quarter to stretch the lead to two goals. The 20-year-old also led her side for disposals at the half with 10.

McKenzie would finish the match with 15 disposals and five tackles, as one of the most influential Tigers on the day.

Fellow midfielder Grace Egan had 20 disposals, six tackles and four clearances, while best and fairest favourite Mon Conti had 20 touches, seven tackles and four inside 50s.

In just her second game on return from injury, key defender Rebecca Miller had 16 disposals and nine rebounds 50s – a driving force out of the backline.

But when it came to facing off with the brilliant Roos’ midfield, Ferguson identified a need to tag another best and fairest favourite in Jasmine Garner.

While Sarah Hosking had previously played a successful nullifying role this season, he gave the responsibility to the inexperienced Meg Macdonald instead.

Playing just her 14th AFLW game, she kept the North Melbourne star to just 13 disposals and one clearance, in her season low for both statistics.

“I thought she [Macdonald] did a great job. We just thought Garner’s too good to just run free,” Ferguson explained.

“If we can quell her influence, it can help us get the result we want. Obviously they’ve got a lot of other strong mids, so it wasn’t a one person show in there.

“I honestly thought Meg’s been in good form playing on someone and beating them. Gave her a great task, and she’s been up for every task she’s had this season.”

https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/ride-that-momentum-tigers-carrying-confidence-into-first-aflw-finals-series/

[one-eyed]

Coaches votes:

North Melbourne v Richmond

10 Ellie McKenzie RICH
4 Mia King NMFC
4 Ashleigh Riddell NMFC
3 Grace Egan RICH
3 Meg Macdonald RICH
3 Jenna Bruton NMFC
3 Monique Conti RICH



Conti finished second overall.

AFLCA Champion Player of the Year final leaderboard

1 Jasmine Garner NMFC - 76 votes
=2 Monique Conti RICH - 67 votes
=2 Georgie Prespakis GEEL - 67 votes
4 Madison Prespakis ESS - 63 votes
5 Amy McDonald GEEL - 60 votes
6 Alyce Parker GWS - 58 votes
7 Charlie Rowbottom GCFC - 57 votes
8 Kiara Bowers FRE - 56 votes
9 Ellie Blackburn WB - 55 votes
10 Ebony Marinoff ADEL - 54 votes

https://www.womens.afl/news/113309?_ga=2.202385169.1860250854.1667140582-224749430.1603381344