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It took Richmond until its 11th AFLW game to score its first win, but the maiden victory over Geelong on Friday night could not have been more emphatic.
The Tigers looked like a premiership contender at GMHBA Stadium, which says as much about their own performance as it does their opponents, who now remain winless after five games.
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The Cats failed to trouble the scorers in the opening quarter and had nine of their players not touch the ball – a stark contrast to Richmond, who controlled the contest completely.
Richmond forward Gabby Seymour was gifted the first goal of the night within minutes of the opening bounce after Geelong gave away a 50m penalty, and, soon after, Courtney Wakefield took a mark on the goal line and converted with little trouble to extend the lead.
But things went from bad to worse for the Cats after quarter time, losing lost Liv Purcell just as Ellie McKenzie added a third goal for Richmond, before Wakefield made it 26 points the difference with her second of the night.
The Tigers had their fifth on the board when Katie Brennan took an uncontested mark in the goal square, and, when key-forward Sabrina Frederick made it four for the quarter after a strong mark inside-50, the half-time margin was 39 points.
Alarmingly for the Cats, it was the thirteenth time they had gone goalless in a quarter, the eighth time in which they had been scoreless in a quarter and the fourth time they had been held goalless in a half in 2021.
They improved after the main break, but the damage had been done.
The first two quarters saw Richmond midfielder Monique Conti in everything, gathering 17 disposals and three inside-50s in a dominant display.
She finished the night with 26 possessions and three clearances, while Brennan turned back the clock, kicking three majors and taking five marks in a starring role in attack.
For Geelong, it now finds itself with a percentage of 27.5, having scored an average of less than two goals per game in the opening five rounds, while conceding an average of 50.2 points per match.
But credit must go to Richmond, who showed that with persistence comes reward – a fact the Cats will at least take some comfort from.
SCOREBOARD
GEELONG 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.1 (13)
RICHMOND 2.1 6.3 7.4 9.6 (60)
GOALS
Geelong: Cranston, A.McDonald
Richmond: Brennan 3, Wakefield 2, Seymour, McKenzie, Frederick, Jacques
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