Swans too good for Tigers in season openerBy Martin Pegan,
AFL Media
Aug 15, 2025A strong performance from Sydney duo Chloe Molloy and Zippy Fish proved too much for Richmond to overcome on Friday night, as the Tigers fell in their AFLW season opener.
The Swans were in control for much of the contest without quite putting the Tigers away until breaking the game open with four third-term goals on the way to an 8.10 (58) to 5.8 (38) win on Friday night.
Molloy made an immediate impact in her first game back from an ACL injury that ruled her out of most of last season, with Sydney’s opening goal in the first term. She finished with four majors.
But the Swans’ co-captain was almost outshone by Fish’s superb first game as the 19-year-old gathered 25 disposals to fall one short of the record for the most on debut.
The Tigers were able to stay with the Swans through the opening half as they remained a threat on the counterattack, but were unable to stick with the hosts as the game opened up.
Caitlin Greiser booted the first goal of the game with a long bomb from 50m as the Sydney defenders switched off as the ball floated through at head height.
But there was no stopping Greiser’s second major as the key forward flushed her kick from beyond the arc to keep the Tigers in the contest after the Swans were on top heading into the main change.
Monique Conti was outstanding with a game-high 32 disposals, while Ellie McKenzie (20 disposals, one goal) also battled hard in the midfield.
Katelyn Cox got through her first game in 649 days unscathed after recovering from an ACL injury and had some important interventions as Richmond fought out the final term.
In a highlight for the Tigers, key defender Rebecca Miller was thrown forward and booted her first AFLW goal in her 52nd game, then kicked a second to give her side a hint of life.
But by then the Swans had already opened up what proved to be a match-winning lead, even before Molloy put the icing on the cake with her fourth goal in the dying stages.
Richmond will search for a first win of the season when it hosts Western Bulldogs at IKON Park next Sunday from 12.35pm.
Former No.1 picks share the spoilsMontana Ham and Ellie McKenzie share a slice of history as former No.1 draft picks, but there was no love lost with the midfield duo butting heads from the opening bounce. After keeping a close eye on each other and enjoying a bit of niggle through the early exchanges, the pair eventually went their separate ways, with Ham doing most of her damage in the forward half and McKenzie continuing in her on-ball role. The Swans’ prized draftee might have taken the honours if not for misfiring near goal as she finished with 0.3, while McKenzie was important for the Tigers at the coalface with a game-high eight clearances.
SYDNEY 1.4 3.6 7.9 8.10 (58)
RICHMOND 1.2 2.3 3.6 5.8 (38)
GOALS
Sydney: Molloy 4, Cooper 2, C.Hamilton, Moloney
Richmond: Greiser 2, Miller 2, McKenzie
BEST
Sydney: Molloy, Fish, Gardiner, Ham, Morphett, Hurley, Grierson
Richmond: Conti, McKenzie, Greiser, Kelly, Miller
INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Richmond: Nil
Crowd: 4,126 at North Sydney Oval
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/1862412/swans-too-good-for-tigers-in-season-opener
