Four in a row: Tigers pip Suns in Punt Road nail-biterNick D'Urbano
womens.afl
1 October 2022RICHMOND 1.2 1.4 2.4 3.5 (23)
GOLD COAST 0.1 2.1 3.1 3.1 (19)
GOALS
Richmond: Brennan, Shevlin, Yassir
Gold Coast: Howarth, Bohanna, Danckert
BEST
Richmond: Conti, Yassir, Egan, J.Hosking, Lavey, Seymour
Gold Coast: Rowbottom, Saad, Whitfort, Bella, Hampson
INJURIES
Richmond: Brennan (eye), Shevlin (leg), J.Hosking (TBC)
Gold Coast: Nil
Reports: Jacques (Rich) for front-on contact on Lauren Ahrens
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A LATE Emelia Yassir goal has extended Richmond's unbeaten run to four, as the Tigers came from behind to secure the points in a tough, physical contest against Gold Coast by four points.
In a game of chances few and far between, the Suns looked to be on their way to a third consecutive win as they led for much of the second half, but a fast-thinking Yassir was in the right place at the right time.
After Grace Egan won a free kick inside the Tigers' attacking 50, Yassir took the advantage, breaking from the contest and catching Gold Coast's defence napping to slot home the winner and ensure Richmond would finish the round in the top eight yet again.
Richmond's fourth win of the season means it has bettered its best AFLW win/loss tally with four games to go, as it looks to secure a maiden finals berth in its fourth season in the competition.
An incredible 153 combined tackles were laid, with both teams throwing everything at each other throughout the game, with the ball residing primarily between the arcs at the Swinburne Centre.
Monique Conti (23 disposals, seven tackles) continued her incredible season to date, while Yessir was ferocious, finishing the day with an additional nine tackles and Jess Hosking also added 11 tackles of her own - exemplifying the ferocity of the contest.
Meanwhile, Charlie Rowbottom (24 disposals, eight tackles) was exceptional for the Suns and led the charge from the middle alongside Claudia Whitfort (16 disposals), while Vivien Saad (17 disposals) patrolled things brilliantly in the back half, keeping the Suns' defence sturdy.
It seemed as if a run of three straight Gold Coast goals between the second and third terms would be the difference, but Richmond's relentlessness in the final term put its defence under enormous pressure.
In the end, the territorial dominance (36-20 inside 50s) and directness in possession outweighed the Suns' more measured approach (196-173 disposals), particularly late in the game when Richmond found an extra pep in its step and outran the Suns.
The win came at a cost for the Tigers, as Maddie Shevlin was stretchered from the ground in the last minute of the contest with a leg injury while Jess Hosking failed to finish the game.
Richmond's Kodi Jacques was also reported for a high bump on Gold Coast's Lauren Ahrens in the first term.
Hurdling HowarthKalinda Howarth had some game and her highlights stretched beyond just what she could do with the ball at her disposal. In the first term, Kate Dempsey marked the ball as Howarth came charging over to create a contest. However, the Suns forward had to be innovative to avoid a potentially heavy collision, using her incredible athleticism to cleanly hurdle over Dempsey - who luckily ducked her head!
Was it touched?Richmond needed a goal deep in the third term, and Maddie Shevlin answered the call from down town. But should it have counted? The former Magpie unloaded from outside 50 to kick the Tigers' second goal of the game, with the ball, according to the goal umpire, beating a sea of players without being touched. However, it looked like the ball may have struck the hand of a Suns defender and without the benefit of the goal review system in AFLW, the goal stood.
Up nextRichmond heads across the Nullarbor in search of a fifth straight win when it takes on West Coast on Friday night, while Gold Coast travels to Sydney to face the Swans on Saturday afternoon.
https://www.womens.afl/match-centre/2022/4697/rich-v-gcfc
