Geelong put an end to Richmond’s AFLW finals hopes with a 38-point win at Ikon Park.
Saturday night’s match was effectively an elimination final given both sides entered with 4-4 records.
But it was one-way traffic from the outset, with the Tigers’ only goal of the match coming in the dying minutes as the Cats went on to win 6.13 (49) to 1.5 (11).
Richmond’s fourth loss from its past five games means it is now a win and 15 percentage points adrift of eighth spot with just one round remaining.
Geelong (5-4) can secure a finals berth if it beats 14th-placed Hawthorn next week.
Cats midfielder Georgie Prespakis starred against Richmond with 27 disposals, nine clearances and a goal, while Amy McDonald finished with 22 possessions and 475m gained.
Monique Conti was Richmond’s best with 31 disposals and six clearances, but the Tigers’ midfield was totally outclassed by the Cats’, who won the inside 50m count 50-19.
Geelong registered the opening 10 inside 50s of the match, and goals from free kicks to Chloe Scheer and Prespakis gave them a 12-point lead at quarter time.
The Cats continued to dominate possession in the second term, but their wasteful return of 0.6 from 16 inside 50s meant the margin was just 17 points at the long break.
Richmond went inside 50m just four times in the opening half for a return of three behinds.
Scheer took a mark of the year contender in the second term when she flew above Beth Lynch to take a spectacular grab.
Richmond big Gabby Seymour spent most of the first half receiving treatment for an ankle injury, but she bravely played on with the injury.
Geelong’s three behinds were the only scores of a dour third term, but the floodgates finally opened in the final quarter as Julia Crockett-Grills, Renee Garing, Aishling Moloney, and Parry all registered goals.
“It’s so frustrating,” Prespakis told the Seven Network of the wasted opportunities during the second and third quarters.
“The good thing about it was we were getting opportunities. We had a lot of it in our front half and our inside 50s were through the roof.
“It was nice to get some execution. We had 19 scoring shots, so it would have been nice to get some more goals.
“Our defence is an absolute rock. They did really well.”
MEANWHILE the Cats will wear a Pride guernsey this weekend against Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium as a part of AFLW Pride Round.
Also worn in AFLW Season 8, the original design was developed in consultation with the club’s Pride Supporter group representatives and AFLW Pride ambassadors led by the club’s Inclusion and Diversity team.
With a number of versions developed, the final design was selected with a focus of the belnded rainbow flag wrapping around the body in a symbolic gesture of support, representation and embrace.
The words ‘We are Football’ are also included to demonstrate that everyone is welcome and included in the game, also leaning on the ‘She is Football’ working – regardless of your gender identity or sexual orientation.
The club also consulted with experts within the field including Proud 2 Play and Deakin University to confirm the appropriate wording and the Pride Progress flag is important to ensure representation greater than the ribbon. The Progress flag has also been included on the back to ensure the guernsey represents the trans and gender diverse communities.
