AFL WOMEN'S Rankings: Round 5 SEASON 7

Richmond takes a step towards the big time

Since their entry into the AFLW competition Richmond has struggled to win matches, and rarely looked like troubling the top teams. The Tigers did not win a match in their first season, and won only three matches in each of their second and third seasons, for a total of six wins from 25 games.

This season the Tigers appear to have taken a step forward, although it has taken a few weeks to realise just how significant that step forward may be. They lost a close match first up against Geelong, scoring only one goal, but that now does not look too bad given how stingy the Cats’ defence has subsequently been. They then fell behind in the final quarter against Adelaide, however given the Crows’ recent form that result is now looking better as well, and they dominated territory in that match with 38 to 20 inside 50s. Richmond then played two expansion sides and did about as well as expected, easily beating Hawthorn and having a close win against the stronger expansion team Essendon.

Against a Brisbane Lions side that had thrashed its first three opponents, and comfortably accounted for seemingly its biggest challenger Melbourne last weekend, the Tigers were given little chance of recording a third straight win. In a low scoring match however Richmond prevailed by four points to record easily their best-ever win in the AFLW competition. It is arguable if they were actually the better side – with Brisbane’s Dakota Davidson missing an easy chance from the goal square late in the match – but they were strong enough against the Lions that the game was theirs for the taking, with eight more possessions and only six less inside 50s.

Richmond has improved in several main areas this season. Their scoring is slightly down, but their points conceded is on average half of what it was last season (20 points per game to 42). Also last season they trailed their opponents significantly in terms of inside 50s and possessions, but this season to date they have positive differentials (see table below). Their improvement in these areas is even more impressive when one considers their fixture has so far has been tougher than last season’s, when they still had a fixture commensurate with being one of the newest expansion sides.

Finally, another factor that made the win against the Lions more impressive was that it came without captain Katie Brennan or vice-captain Sarah Hosking. Maddie Shevlin had probably her best-ever game for the Tigers, while recruit Eilish Sheerin continued to rack up the metres gained for which she currently ranks second in the competition (despite not being among the leaders in kicks), and intercepts for which she is easily first. The addition of Grace Egan and full return of former number one draft pick Ellie McKenzie has also given Monique Conti some much-needed support in the midfield.

Can the Tigers make their first ever finals series? It still may be a close thing, but on current form whichever way it goes they have nevertheless taken some significant steps forward this season.