Despite a fast start, a much-improved Richmond outfit has been defeated by Melbourne by 16 points under Friday night lights at the Swinburne Centre, falling 6.2 (38) to 8.6 (54).

It took the Tigers less than one minute to strike, with Monique Conti’s silky clearance work setting up a goal from Tessa Lavey.

Another goal from Richmond captain Katie Brennan soon followed, with Melbourne taking until the final minute of the opening term to open its account, courtesy of Tayla Harris.

Richmond was conscious not to allow Melbourne to find runners through the corridor, with the Tigers sure to keep a forward deep to prevent any easy turnovers, as Monique Conti continued her impressive start to the season, running through stoppages and finding the footy with ease. 

05:04

AFLW R2: Match highlights

Watch the highlights from the match against Melbourne.

Kate Hore continued the fightback for the Dees, booting two goals in the second quarter to give the Dees a 26-point lead heading into the main break.

Lavey started the second half as she did the first, booting an early goal to threaten a Tiger fightback.

Brennan worked hard in the second half to give her side opportunities to score, moving freely around the forward 50 arc to spot up teammates closer to goal, but the Demons' ability to read the ball proved too much. 

00:23

AFLW R2: Tessa kicks her first goal

A quick centre clearance from Conti leads Lavey to kick her first AFLW goal in the first minute of the match.

But the Dees were able to withstand the heat, wrestling the game back on their terms with a Karen Paxman goal just before three-quarter-time.

The Tigers continued to threaten in the final quarter, but the Demons stood strong. 

01:00

AFLW R2: Captain KB kicks the second

Brennan takes a lovely chest mark and kicks the second goal of the match

Conti backed up last week’s best-on-ground performance with another stellar showing, racking up 25 disposals and one goal.

Karen Paxman (23 disposals, one goal) was prolific for the Dees, while Kate Hore, Tayla Harris and Alyssa Bannan all finished with two goals.

A star continues to rise 

Monique Conti's 29 disposal performance last week had the footy world talking, and she's backed it up this week. Registering a game-high 25 disposals and kicking her first goal in the yellow and black, Conti proved hard to stop. Using her speed to split packs and clean hands to gather the ball with ease, no Demon was able to go with her. 

Say what?

"I thought the first quarter we could have been more up at quarter time, we were playing a really good brand of footy - hard and tough and getting some run into the game. The territory game was our way. The third and fourth quarters were a real arm wrestle, with momentum swings. I don't know what it looked like from the stands or on the telly, but from my vantage point it was a real quality game of footy. I do feel like we're a better team tonight than when we rocked up at the start of the game." Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson

What's next? 

Richmond will be back at the Swinburne Centre to take on the hubbed Fremantle Dockers, while Melbourne will head home to Casey Fields for the first time to play St Kilda. 

05:53

AFLW R2: Ferguson post-match

Watch Ryan Ferguson's press conference after round two's match against Melbourne

RICHMOND                 2.1     2.1     4.1     6.2     (38)  
MELBOURNE               1.0     6.3     7.6     8.6     (54)  

GOALS  
Richmond: Lavey 2, Brennan 2, Dargan, Conti 
Melbourne: Harris 2, Hore 2, Bannan 2, D. Pearce, Paxman,  

BEST   
Richmond: Lavey, Brennan, Conti, Seymour 
Melbourne: L. Pearce, Paxman, Birch, Hanks, West 

INJURIES   
Richmond: Nil 
Melbourne: Nil 

Reports: Nil  

Crowd: 1,517 at the Swinburne Centre