Richmond will enter their maiden AFLW finals appearance with the double chance in their pocket after a nail-biting draw with North Melbourne on Sunday.
Ellie McKenzie celebrates a goal.Credit:Getty Images
The Kangaroos needed to secure not only the win but a large percentage boost to grab fourth spot for themselves, replacing Geelong.
With this result unlikely in the dying minutes, Geelong fans would have been watching on with bated breath, as they were hoping for a North victory as long as it wasn’t a blowout.
The fast-paced and ferocious contest at Arden Street gave fans an early taste of finals football.
Richmond took an early lead with back-to-back goals from Courtney Wakefield and Stella Reid and were a nose in front all day, leading at all the changes, including by five points at three-quarter-time.
But when Jenna Bruton opened the final quarter with a goal, North Melbourne were in front for the first time all day by a point, before scores were again level moments later.
When the final siren ended the arm-wrestle, neither side could be split on 27 points apiece.
It was touted as a clash of the best-and-fairest favourites, but North Melbourne’s Jasmine Garner and Richmond’s Monique Conti were both checked closely by the opposition. Garner, tagged by Meg McDonald, finished with 13 disposals, while Conti had 20.
Top-four locked in: Courtney Wakefield and Maddy Brancatisano.Credit:Getty Images
For Richmond, Ellie McKenzie had a cracker, bursting out of stoppages and continually impacting play, finishing with 15 disposals and two goals, while Grace Egan was also prolific at the source and Eilish Sheerin impressive in both defensive and offensive work.
North’s ever-reliable Ash Riddell had 19 disposals, while Bruton was dominant, along with both Emma and Mia King.
Richmond will now face Brisbane in a qualifying final, while it’s sudden death for North Melbourne and Geelong in an elimination final.
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 1.3 2.8 3.9 (27)
RICHMOND 2.1 3.1 4.1 4.3 (27)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Riddell, Abbatangelo, Bruton.
Richmond: McKenzie 2, Wakefield, Reid.
CROWD
3147 at Arden Street Oval.
