Richmond battled hard on Sunday afternoon, coming up just short against Hawthorn, in the last match simulation before Round 1 of the AFLW season.
With sunny skies and beautiful conditions for footy at the Kennedy Community Centre, silky skills were on display by both sides from the first bounce.
But it was the Hawks who started the game particularly well with a goal to Jacqueline Dupuy inside the first 50 seconds of the contest. The Tigers got the perfect response, though, set up by an aggressive run off the back flank from Maddie Shevlin, as Richmond’s 2025 number one draft pick Olivia Wolmarans ran onto it and set up a goal for Caitlin Greiser.
Richmond’s pressure throughout the first quarter was electric, able to create repeated forward-50 entries as a result. The Hawks turned the tide though and in the last five minutes of the term they had opportunities to kick multiple goals, but they were inaccurate in front of the big sticks and only led by three points at quarter-time.
The Hawks again controlled territory to start the second quarter, but didn’t capitalise, with Richmond kicking one against the grain after an end-to-end play finished off by small forward Mackenzie Ford.
Hawthorn finally got reward for effort to end the term, kicking a goal after the siren and taking the lead back. Without gun midfielders Monique Conti and Ellie McKenzie, it was a fresh on-ball brigade for the Tigers, with speedsters Sierra Grieves and Emelia Yassir showing great signs.
Both teams set up well behind the ball and it proved difficult to penetrate the respective defences, but Dana East broke the gridlock and kicked a superb goal, giving Richmond back the lead. The Tigers pressed hard for another goal late in the quarter and while they couldn’t get one, they still held a two-point lead at three-quarter time.
Richmond again played the ball in its half early in the final term, but Hawthorn’s defence stood strong and kept rebounding the ball. The Hawks eventually got out of their back half and it was their turn to put to build some inside-50 dominance, with the Tigers lifting their tackling pressure and desperately trying to hold on to their slender lead.
Unfortunately for the Tigers, Hayley McLaughlin was awarded a free kick close to goal and slotted it with only 30 seconds left to win the game for Hawthorn.
In encouraging signs, Montana Beruldsen and Laura McClelland provided brilliant drive out of the back half, while several other youngsters played big roles against some seasoned Hawks.
Richmond's focus now turns to Round 1 against Collingwood on Saturday 15 August.
Hawthorn 1.3 2.7 2.8 3.8 (26)
Richmond 1.0 2.1 3.4 3.5 (23)
Goalkickers: Greiser, Ford, East
