AFLW R3: Richmond vs Fremantle @ Punt Rd

[Chuck17]

Reid and Molan looking like Lennon and Corey Ellis at this point

Yep exactly my thoughts

Molan is no where near up to it and is way too slow

Reid is weak at the contest

We are lacking two quality mids, Brennan needs to be in the forward line full time

Umpires are stuffing clueless and stuffing cheat

[one-eyed]

Dockers cruise home with a wet sail after early Tiger tussle

Josh Gabelich
womens.afl
22 January 2022  8pm

RICHMOND     0.3     3.4     5.4     7.5      (47)
FREMANTLE    1.1     4.6     6.8     11.11  (77)

GOALS
Richmond: Yassir, Stahl, Molan, Jacques, Brennan, D’Arcy, Bernardi
Fremantle: Houghton 2, E. Antonio 2, Tuhakaraina, Tighe, East, Hyde, Roux, Miller, E. Antonio

BEST
Richmond: Conti, Dempsey, Seymour, Molan
Fremantle: Bowers, Houghton, O’Sullivan, Miller, Pugh, K. Antonio

INJURIES
Richmond: Cordner (knee)
Fremantle:

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at the Swinburne Centre

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FREMANTLE may not be heading back to Western Australia anytime soon, but the Dockers look at home away from home, making it three from three after beating Richmond by 30 points at the Swinburne Centre on Saturday evening.

The Dockers were forced to put 48 hours of anguish and frustration behind them following the announcement that the Western Australian border won’t reopen as planned early next month.

But despite a gutsy effort from the Tigers – who refused to surrender across the first three quarters – Trent Cooper’s team went in for the kill in the final term, booting the first five goals of the fourth quarter to win 11.11 (77) to 7.5 (47).

After sharing the AFLW league best and fairest in 2021 with Collingwood star Bri Davey, three-time All-Australian Kiara Bowers continued her blistering start to 2022 with another brilliant display at Punt Road.

This time the 30-year-old midfielder tore Richmond apart from the opening bounce, finishing with a whopping 28 disposals, 24 kicks and 16 tackles in a clear best-on-ground performance.

Fremantle exited last year’s finals series in the opening week, but the Dockers are quickly emerging as a genuine premiership contender after adding the Tigers to wins over Greater Western Sydney and crosstown rivals West Coast, joining Adelaide, Collingwood and Melbourne as the only unbeaten teams in 2022.

The Dockers withstood a dogged Richmond for three quarters but quickly turned their attention to a couple of records in the closing 15 minutes of the game. They almost eclipsed their highest ever score, biggest winning margin and nearly broke the record for inside 50s in a game.

Just when the West Australians looked like running away with the game in the middle two quarters, Richmond found a way to remain in the game for as long as they could. Sophie Molan and Emelia Yassir both slotted their first AFLW goals to ignite a patriotic yellow and black crowd late in the second quarter.

Then when the Dockers threatened to put the Tigers away in the third quarter, Tayla Stahl read the play perfectly to reduce the margin to less than a kick with two minutes to play. But just like they did all day, Fremantle had all the answers. This time Gemma Houghton who composed herself before calmly slotting a goal from 30 metres out after the three-quarter time siren.

The Tigers dug in again late in the game, kicking the final two goals of the game to improve the final margin, but it was too little, too late.

Now Fremantle faces an anxious wait to find out when they will return home, with the very real possibility they could be here for most, if not all, of the season.

Three star players – Bri Davey, Isabel Huntington and Kate Lutkins – suffered season-ending knee injuries in the opening round of the season and there could be one more after Harriet Cordner was helped off Punt Road Oval following an innocuous incident in the second quarter. With Cordner in clear pain on the deck and her teammates looking on in some distress, the game stopped for a handful of minutes while Richmond trainers helped the former Demon off the ground.

Richmond star fires on home soil
Two-time All-Australian Monique Conti couldn’t have done too much more for the Tigers on Saturday, providing plenty of energy and finding plenty of the ball. The former premiership Bulldog has established herself as a genuine star in recent years, winning back-to-back best and fairests at Tigerland after joining the club ahead of 2020. Conti collected 22 disposals, 13 kicks and laid four tackles in the loss against Fremantle.

Death, taxes and double-digit tackles for Freo star
If you’re looking for a sure thing in the AFLW right now, this is it. Kiara Bowers laid 14 tackles in the Derby in round one, then 12 more against Greater Western Sydney, before the Fremantle enforcer made it 16 more on Saturday. She laid eight in the first quarter to put her on world record pace, added five more in the third quarter after not laying one in the second stanza, then finished with three more when the game was done.

https://www.womens.afl/news/81416?_ga=2.135565105.1482294730.1641899012-224749430.1603381344

[WilliamPowell]

Very disappointing final qtr,

We arexstill a team who cannot afford to have have so many of put top tier out.

Lavey was a massive loss today (at selection). Too much left to Conti

I'll be honest I have no idea how we cover the loss of Cordner.

While we have some very goods kids coming through don't think we can expect them to step up and cover for a mature age player.

And gee how we miss McKenzie...

Reid will be fine, 1st season and 3 games in

Molan on the other hand, well she just does my head in. 

[Chuck17]

Out Molan

In Ronald McDonald

[Knighter]

Out Molan

In Ronald McDonald

We’d be better off playing one short than playing Molan again

[Chuck17]

Good on fergalicious for having a shot at the umps in his presser

[one-eyed]

Media match reports:

Dockers too good for Tigers

The Age
23 January 2022

Fremantle sent Richmond home with their tail between their legs after a 30-point win on Saturday.

It was the first time the two AFLW clubs have faced each other and the game struggled to flow early on.

The Tigers absorbed most of Fremantle’s 23 to six tackle count in the first but failed to capitalise on their advantage with the wind direction. Richmond managed just three minors and eventually conceded the first goal of the quarter, as one off the boot of Fremantle’s Gemma Houghton came from a free kick.

Docker Kiara Bowers, the record holder for the most tackles, didn’t disappoint and managed eight in the first term.

Sarah D’Arcy, who missed last week due to AFL health and safety protocols, announced her return with the Tigers’ first goal. But Richmond’s excitement was short-lived when defender Harriet Cordner went down with a suspected knee injury.

Former Fremantle captain Kara Antonio soared a goal through to give the Dockers a seven-point lead, before wife Ebony Antonio added to the tally with an impressive snap, seemingly opening the goal scoring floodgates.

Tiger Sophie Molan responded with one, upon her return from a lower leg injury, before teammate Emelia Yassir booted her first AFLW goal.

Roxy Roux found one more to give Fremantle an eight-point lead at half-time.

Ebony Antonio was sidelined after a heavy hit though returned quickly. Dana East slotted one for the Dockers, but Katie Brennan replied with a strong tackle and Kodi Jacques got the Tigers one back. Tayla Stahl ensured Richmond got back within four points, but Houghton wouldn’t allow it, booting her second for the day into the final term, which began a goal scoring rush for Fremantle.

Makaela Tuhakaraina celebrated her first AFLW major, so too did teammate Aine Tighe followed by veteran Kara Antonio for her second, a goal from captain Hayley Miller and finally, one from Mikayla Hyde to put the result beyond doubt.

Richmond skipper Brennan retaliated from Fremantle’s 44 inside 50s, narrowing the Tigers’ margin, but it was too late.

RICHMOND 0.3 3.4 5.4 7.5 (47)
FREMANTLE 1.1 4.6 6.8 11.11 (77)

GOALS
Richmond: D’Arcy, Molan, Yassir, Jacques, Stahl, Brennan, Bernardi
Fremantle: Houghton 2, E. Antonio 2, Tuhakaraina, Tighe, East, Hyde, Roux, Miller, E. Antonio
BEST
Richmond: Conti, Dempsey, Seymour, Hosking, Miller, Molan, Brennan
Fremantle: Bowers, Miller, O’Sullivan, Pugh, Cain, Houghton, K. Antonio

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/magpies-too-strong-for-the-cats-20220121-p59qat.html

[one-eyed]

Another key AFLW player has succumbed to a suspected ACL injury during Richmond’s loss to Fremantle

James Mottershead
HeraldSun
January 23, 2022

A late Fremantle flurry helped them hold off a valiant Richmond side, who lost their key defensive pillar with a suspected ACL, by 30 points.

Harriet Cordner has been one of the Tigers’ best players this season, taking the best opposition forward each week, but a second-quarter knee injury looks to have ended her season.

Richmond fought on in her absence and were just 10 points adrift of Fremantle at the final break, but a five-goal-to-one final term from the Dockers showed why they are fancied as a premiership threat this season.

A tight first quarter was highlighted by Fremantle’s tackling pressure around the clearances which stopped Richmond’s handball game.

Wayward goalkicking had it looking like both sides would enter the quarter-time huddle goalless, but a Gemma Houghton major with second left gave Fremantle a four-point lead.

Sarah D’Arcy kicked the first goal of the second quarter following a strong pack mark 20m out from goal and handed Richmond the lead.

But the injury to Cordner sapped the life out of Richmond and handed Fremantle the ascendancy as they barraged the goals.

Another goal of the year contender from Ebony Antonio, who baulked an opponent 60m from goal before running to the 50m arc and slotting the goal, had Fremantle 13-points up and running away with it.

But the Tigers found their fight and kicked the next two goals of the game, including a first career goal to Emelia Yassir, to cut the gap to just one-point.

A late Freo goal courtesy of Roxanne Roux gave her side some breathing space at the main break.

Dana East kicked the first goal of the third quarter, but the next two belonged to Richmond and had the Tigers within four points.

A controversial holding the ball decision on the siren gifted Houghton her second goal of the game and Fremantle a 10-point lead as the sides turned for home.

A five goal-to-one last quarter from the Dockers turned a close game into a nice percentage booster for Freo who has now started the season 3-0.

Conti v Bowers

Last season’s joint AFLW best-and-fairest winner locked horns with this year’s hottest player in a tantalising midfield matchup.

Bowers had notched eight tackles by quarter time and gave Fremantle a fierce defensive edge around the ball, but Conti’s ability to win and find the ball saw the Tiger star have a game-high seven touches.

Bowers ended up taking the points, finishing with 28 disposals, 16 tackles, and nine clearances, while Conti still managed an impressive 22 touches, four tackles, and two clearances, but wasn’t at her influential best.

Tackling machines

It’s no secret the Dockers set the benchmark for tackling in AFLW averaging 79.5 a game.

And it was their intense pressure around the ball that set the tone in the first quarter as Richmond tried to move the ball through stoppages.

The Dockers laid 23 tackles to Richmond’s six, successfully breaking up the Tigers’ quick hands around the clearances.

Another ACL?

There was a collective silence at Punt Road as Cordner lay on the wing clutching her knee in a scene all too familiar to AFLW fans this season.

Richmond’s key defensive pillar, Cordner, went down with a suspected ACL injury halfway through the second quarter.

The 29-year-old simultaneously attempted to stop and change direction as she desperately tried to apprehend an opposition player with the ball but crumpled to the ground.

It would be a devastating blow for Richmond and Cordner, as well as for the AFLW, after stars Bri Davey, Izzy Huntington, and Kate Lutkins all suffered ACL injuries in Rd 1.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/aflw/aflw-2022-all-the-latest-news-results-and-injuries-from-round-3/news-story/80bec23c5fe98d9f6c7a3e0003538f6d

[one-eyed]

Coach Ryan Ferguson's post-match presser:

WATCH: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1050701/aflw-r3-ferguson-post-match

----------------------

* Hard game to get your head around. One hell of a game for 3 quarters. They were able to puncture us and get a run on in the last quarter. We were structural put to the test when Cordner went down. Also had a couple underdone due to covid protocols during the week. We needed lots of rotations. It was huge effort. I know we conceded goals late but they really fought it out. In the end, a really good team got their teeth stuck into us for a patch of time. We couldn't hold them up for any longer.

* We really like Freo's brand of footy. They play a substancial brand of footy. You know what they are going to do but it's hard to beat. They work hard so hard, they're aggressive, they run hard both ways, they work inside the contest and outside. Our brand isn't too dissimilar in what we're trying to build. So we take a lot out of going head to head with them for a long patch of time. And to be challenged in different ways and still stay strong. I know we didn't want to concede that many goals but to scrap and fight late and stick to task and not pack it in ... you always want the win but they did a hell of an effort tonight.

* We talked about staying in the moment. There's less you can do structurally aside from little things. A lot about mindset and staying in the moment and connected with each other. Those two goals they got in the second quarter and we were able to reel them in ... that late one they got was a killer. That was the theme of the day. Freo got late goals which were pretty costly. Momentum wise they got us in the end but the shifts during the game due to late goals were costly and heartbreakers.

* Q: 13 - 26 free kicks?
We certainly didn't help ourselves. We need to get better in our fundamentals going lower with our tackles plus being sloppy with a late shove. We've got to do some work with that. I'm sure the umps have a fair bit of growth in their game too to be fair. We'll both work on our growth areas this week.

* Fearing the worse with Cordner.
   It's tough for the rest of the group. The team is very connected, very resilient and full of character. Big challenges ahead of us but we know we're building towards something.

* Freo did get us in the clearances. They were dynamic and they got us. We need to adjust that in time and stem the bleeding.  So we've got work to do with our craft in there. We're going to learn a lot from a really good team. They've got some class in there and we'll learn from it.

* Q: Must be pleased with your ball movement and run and carry?
We've just got to make sure we don't put ourselves under the pressure the other way. We're happy we've got a brand that if we get the mix right we can score and score against good teams. Other teams were having really trouble scoring against Freo. We were able to get through a score despite only having 20 inside 50s. We needed more inside 50s and conceded too many. The ability to put score on the board is great; we've just got to concede less. So we've got to get to work on that for sure.

* Some minor bumps and bruises but fingers crossed no other injuries.

[one-eyed]

Match highlights: https://www.richmondfc.com.au/video/1050680/aflw-r3-match-highlights

[one-eyed]

Sadly it's been confirmed that Harriet Cordner has done an ACL  .

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1051013/cordner-injury-update

-----------------------------------

Richmond Head of Women’s Football, Kate Sheahan, said the injury was a bitter blow for an excellent footballer, person and leader.

“Harriet has been exceptional since the day she walked into our football club, both as a pillar in defence and as a person around the place, so we are really feeling for her at the moment,” she added.

“We will all wrap our arms around ‘H,’ and she has the full support of the entire football club for her recovery and rehabilitation.

“Harriet is a work-horse with huge professionalism in the way she prepares herself to play and perform. We know that she will attack her rehabilitation first-class and that she will continue to shine as a leader within our program while on the sidelines for the rest of the season.”

[one-eyed]

Richmond duo Laura McClelland and Tayla Stahl have been charged by the Match Review Officer following Saturday's loss to Fremantle.

Laura McClelland, Richmond, has been charged with Kneeing Ebony Antonio, Fremantle, during the third quarter of the Round Three match between Richmond and Fremantle, played at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval on Saturday January 22, 2022.
 
In summary, the player can accept a one match sanction with an early plea.
 
Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Careless Conduct, Medium Impact and Groin Contact. The incident was classified as a one-match sanction as a first offence. The player can accept a one match sanction with an early plea.

Tayla Stahl, Richmond, has been charged with Rough Conduct (Dangerous Tackle) against Emma O’Driscoll, Fremantle, during the third quarter of the Round Three match between Richmond and Fremantle, played at Swinburne Centre Punt Road Oval on Saturday January 22, 2022.
 
In summary, the player can accept a reprimand with an early plea.
 
Based on the available evidence, the incident was assessed as Careless Conduct, Low Impact, High Contact. The incident was classified as a $400 sanction as a first offence. The player can accept a reprimand with an early plea.

https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1051329/mcclelland-stahl-charged-by-mro/

[one-eyed]

We’re loving what we’re seeing from Gabby Seymour so far this season 🤩

She’s our Round 3 player of the match!


https://twitter.com/RichmondWomens/status/1485524553103478787

[one-eyed]

Coaches votes

Richmond v Fremantle
10 Kiara Bowers (FRE)
7 Hayley Miller (FRE)
6 Monique Conti (RICH)
4 Gabby O'Sullivan (FRE)
3 Gemma Houghton (FRE)


Leaderboard
25 Ashleigh Riddell NMFC
24 Monique Conti RICH
23 Jaimee Lambert COLL
21 Hayley Miller FRE
20 Anne Hatchard ADEL

https://www.womens.afl/news/81969/aflca-votes-r3-gun-roo-storms-to-the-top-superstar-tiger-in-hot-pursuit

[Chuck17]

Unsure how our player got a one week suspension for jumping into someones guts

Toby has made a living off it, and usually in his opponents face