RICHMOND has extended its winning run to five games and moved closer to a maiden finals appearance after a hard-fought 19-point win against West Coast at Mineral Resources Park on Friday night.
After a nail-biting run of close wins, the Tigers were again forced to fight to the end, putting West Coast away in the final five minutes to win 6.7 (43) to 3.6 (24).
Grace Egan sealed the win with the final two goals as the Tigers notched their fifth win of the season and put themselves in the mix for a top four finish at the end of their fourth AFLW season.
The visitors had control for most of the night, but West Coast captain Emma Swanson cut the margin to just eight points early in the fourth quarter when she got free on the boundary and converted on the run.
The Eagles continued to surge but couldn't get the extra goal they needed before Richmond executed what was the critical play of the night.
It started at half back where Laura McClelland stood under the ball to take a courageous, crunching mark before moving the ball along the wing, where Gabrielle Seymour and Courtney Wakefield also took big contested marks.
Superstar Monique Conti then got involved, marking at half forward and then sending the ball inside 50 with a perfectly weighted pass to Egan, who finished what was a terrific team goal and the match-winner.
Eilish Sheerin was the star for the Tigers, finishing with 21 disposals (12 contested), six inside 50s and her first AFLW goal, while Conti was all class throughout with 18 and three clearances.
Egan's team-high two goals proved vital in the end, with midfielder Meg Macdonald (15 and four clearances) important in the stoppage battles.
West Coast, wearing its pride jumper, continues to improve but fell to its fifth loss in six games, remaining winless against the Tigers from three attempts now, despite the teams entering the AFLW competition together.
Charlie Thomas worked hard to finish with 23 disposals and seven rebound 50s, while captain Emma Swanson (19 and nine tackles) tried to will the team home in the final term.
Exciting forward Ella Roberts continues to show flashes of brilliance and was able to win the ball and burst into space, finishing with 14 disposals and four inside 50s.
Sheerin's rewardA great story of perseverance, Eilish Sheerin joined Richmond as a 29-year-old recruit in June and has quickly found her feet at Tigerland after making a brilliant debut in round one. On Friday night her season went to a new level, kicking her first AFLW goal when she converted on the run with class from an angle.
Up nextRichmond launches round eight in the first match of a Friday night doubleheader, facing Carlton at Ikon Park at 6.30pm AEDT.
WEST COAST 1.2 1.4 2.4 3.6 (24)RICHMOND 2.2 4.5 4.5 6.7 (43)
GOALSWest Coast: Simmons, Rowley, SwansonRichmond: Egan 2, Kiely, Conti, Reid, Sheerin
BESTWest Coast: Thomas, Swanson, Roberts, McCarthy, Smith Richmond: Sheerin, Conti, Egan, Macdonald, Dempsey, McClelland
INJURIESWest Coast: NilRichmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
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