Terrific Tigers power past Port for fourth straight win
By Phoebe McWilliams
AFLW
25 Sept 2024
RICHMOND has made it four consecutive wins with a comprehensive 21-point victory over Port Adelaide in greasy conditions at Ikon Park.
The Tigers' quick ball movement and clean disposal was the difference, giving Richmond a 6.12 (48) to 3.9 (27) win in the opening game of week five.
In typical Melbourne weather, a beautiful spring's day changed at a moment's notice, with rain falling in the first quarter, creating slippery conditions.
It was Richmond's midfielders who adjusted best to the rain, with Mon Conti (23 disposals, seven score involvements) and Ellie McKenzie (22 disposals, eight score involvements) handling the footy as though it was a dry, sunny day.
Across the ground the Tigers' players looked to move the ball fast, kicking long and playing on at every opportunity, often catching Port Adelaide's defenders off guard.
Richmond's forwards struggled to score their first major, kicking five points before Katie Brennan kicked the first goal to help settle her side.
Once the Tigers had their first, they looked more confident around goal with Maddie Shevlin, and small forwards Emelia Yassir and Mackenzie Ford the next to hit the scoreboard.
A shining light for Port Adelaide was dangerous forward Gemma Houghton, who got her side's first just before half-time, reducing the margin to 22 points at the main break.
The rain stopped but Richmond's scoring didn't, with Brennan kicking the first of the second half and her second for the game.
Despite the Tigers having the majority of play in the third term, Port got its second for the night once again through Houghton.
The Power's pressure around the ball lifted in the final term and, after having the first four inside 50s, Maria Moloney got Port's third of the night.
But once again it was captain Brennan who settled her team, snapping a goal against the flow of play for her third to put the win out of Port's reach.
Mighty McKenzie
Look out AFLW, Ellie McKenzie is fit and firing. The former No.1 draft pick is having her best season to date. The 21-year-old is currently averaging career-high numbers in disposals (20.2), contested possessions (10.3) and clearances (3.5). At the halfway point of the season, you feel that the best is yet to come.
Captain's goals
Though it was a dominant performance for the Tigers, there were moments when they needed to settle. Enter Katie Brennan. Brennan kicked a number of captain's goals, helping lead her side to victory. The 31-year-old stood up when her side needed her, putting through the first of the night after her side had kicked five points in a row. The Tigers forward then kicked the first of the second half, after the Power lifted just before the half-time break, and the final goal of the match to seal the victory.
Age v experience
Two unlikely types met in the middle of Ikon Park. The first was Port Adelaide's 19-year-old Matilda Scholz, who is in her second AFLW season and 15th career game. The second was Richmond's 36-year-old Tam Luke, who retired from football at the end of the most recent VFLW season, only to get a call up to Richmond's side five and a half weeks ago. Luke is in her fifth season and third club. It was a fairly even battle, with Scholz gaining a slight ascendency with one more hitout and four more clearances than her counterpart. It was a fun contest to watch.
Up next
Both sides will back up for a second game in week five. Richmond will head to Tasmania to take on North Melbourne at UTAS Stadium in Launceston on Sunday afternoon, while Port Adelaide will head home to Alberton Oval to take on Carlton on Sunday evening.
RICHMOND 1.5 4.8 5.11 6.12 (48)
PORT ADELAIDE 0.1 1.4 2.6 3.9 (27)
GOALS
Richmond: Brennan 3, Yassir, Shevlin, Ford
Port Adelaide: Houghton 2, Moloney
BEST
Richmond: McKenzie, Conti, Brennan, Egan, Dempsey, Luke
Port Adelaide: Houghton, Brooksby, Scholz, Lamb, Moloney
INJURIES
Richmond: Shevlin (ankle)
Port Adelaide: Nil
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 1,493 at Ikon Park
Source: AFLW website
