By Sarah Burt
Adelaide have come from behind to break a much-improved Richmond’s hearts after the Tigers led by eight points at three-quarter-time in a tight battle at the Swinburne Centre on Saturday afternoon.
The first AFLW clash between the sides was a fierce contest after both had lost in round one – the reigning premier Crows were looking to bounce back after they were defeated in a grand-final rematch against Melbourne last week.
Adelaide’s Ash Woodland marks under pressure from Libby Graham.Credit:Getty Images
Richmond were again without skipper Katie Brennan due to a foot injury, with Sarah Hosking stepping in as captain on her 50th AFLW game, the first Tiger to reach the milestone.
Hosking’s twin sister, Sarah, ran out for her first game of the season alongside Maddy Brancatisano in her 25th game.
Adelaide made three changes this week, with new recruit Amber Ward making her debut after moving across from West Coast, while Brooke Tonon and Zoe Prowse were also named.
In a hot start in the opening term, last season’s leading goalkicker Ash Woodland opened the goalscoring to get the Crows on the board early, followed quickly by Prowse.
Emelia Yassir finished a clean passage of play for the Tigers with their first major, followed by another off the boot of Courtney Wakefield.
Hannah Munyard of the Crows kicks while being tackled by Rebecca Miller.Credit:Getty Images
Richmond managed repeat entries but only had two to show for it, while Ebony Marinoff starred for the Crows with eight disposals and three tackles in the first term, becoming the first AFLW player in history to record 800 career kicks.
Wakefield got another for the Tigers in the second term, but the Crows responded quickly with a dribble through from Rachelle Martin, leaving the Tigers just two points up.
The Tigers had four times the number of inside 50’s but their inaccuracy in front of goal was continuing from last week. They were dominant on the ground with forward pressure but weren’t getting reward for effort as Adelaide’s defence held strong.
Anne Hatchard became just the second player in AFLW history to record 200 career marks as she dominated for the Crows, having notched 14 disposals, four marks and five tackles by half-time. Richmond remained two points up at the main break.
Monique Conti gets a pass away for the Tigers.Credit:Getty Images
After a tight re-start, Richmond defender Maddie Shevlin took matters into her own hands and finally broke the dam wall, booting one to put them eight points up. Monique Conti was on track for her best career game, on 21 disposals and nine contested possessions leading into the final term.
Richmond were prolific in tackles inside 50, edging the AFLW record, but had the wind taken out of their sails when life-long Crows supporter Abbie Ballard slotted a goal for Adelaide to put them one point up. They had also shifted skipper Chelsea Randall forward in an attempt to capitalise.
Ballard got another as Richmond ended nine points behind at the final siren.
Randall said afterwards: “Richmond were outstanding … they really brought the pressure, we just had to come out and press the game up a little bit more and be more aggressive in our forward line.
“We were chasing that first win after the loss to Melbourne last week and we did it.”
ADELAIDE 2.0 3.0 3.1 5.6 (36)
RICHMOND 2.2 3.2 4.3 4.3 (27)
GOALS
ADELAIDE: Ballard 2, Woodland, Prowse, Martin
RICHMOND: Wakefield 2, Yassir, Shevlin
BEST
ADELAIDE: Hatchard, Woodland, Marinoff, Biddell, Gould, Randall
RICHMOND: Conti, Egan, McKenzie, Wakefield, Seymour, Kelly, Lavey
INJURIES None
