North Melbourne has sealed top spot on the ladder for the third consecutive season, beating Richmond by 68 points at Windy Hill on Saturday afternoon.

The Kangaroos put the foot down across the first half with seven unanswered goals on their way to a 15.11 (101) to 5.3 (33) victory - their sixth in a row.

It was the complete team performance, with captain Jasmine Garner leading her side as she makes a charge for an elusive AFLW Best and Fairest award (28 disposals, three clearances, 430 metres gained).

Tahlia Randall grew into the game in the second half (three goals), but fell short of reeling in the AFLW Leading Goalkicker award after a late opportunity went out of bounds on the full. She finishes the home and away season with 25.

The Tigers looked for star Monique Conti often by handball (a game-high 33 possessions, nine clearances, five tackles), while co-captain Ellie McKenzie stood up strongly with 25, six clearances and 485 metres gained.

It marks the end of Richmond’s season with four wins from 12 starts – an encouraging double the number of wins last year before an all-encompassing external review created wholesale change across the program.

North Melbourne celebrated the dual milestones of underrated ruck Kim Rennie lining up for game 100, while midfielder Ruby Tripodi played her 50th match.

Despite some pre-game rain (and a lightning delay across town stalling the earlier Saturday afternoon game at Moorabbin), the conditions held up with the sun even making an appearance.

Richmond had a competitive first term, squaring the ledger about halfway through with two goals before the Kangaroos scored four in a row to open up a 17-point lead at quarter-time.

The Tigers’ defence absorbed pressure well early in the second term, mopping up repeatedly with intercept marks – including the recently returned Sarah Hosking bravely going back with the flight to deny Randall a shot on goal.

But unfortunately, you have to do it against North Melbourne for four quarters or be defeated by their system. And the Kangaroos re-gained the ascendancy with three relatively late goals.

It began with Bella Eddey pouncing on a turnover out the back to Vikki Wall who gathered and goaled for her second, before veteran Kate Shierlaw converted following a holding free kick and a Garner follow-up.

The sides traded goals early in the third quarter, with Caitlin Greiser growing into the contest to score two goals including a nice snap out of the ruck in the forward pocket. Number one draft pick Olivia Wolmarans also reeled in an enormous mark on the goal line off a booming Maddie Shevlin kick for her first of the match.

But it was the Kangaroos lifting, with Jenna Bruton, Tahlia Randall and Blaithin Bogue capitalising to pull ahead yet again for the second half.

The wait only makes it sweeter
Both sides celebrated successful injury returns. For Richmond, debutant Zoe Hargreaves (four tackles) had waited 684 days after rupturing her ACL and then suffering further hamstring and knee setbacks as she prepared to make her debut this season. Meanwhile, defender Nicole Bresnehan returned after an ACL injury in round one 2025, presenting last year’s premiership cup to her Kangaroos before a calf injury in early September set back her timeline for return. Both were warmly greeted by their respective fanbases (and family and friends) when they first touched the ball, with Hargreaves getting particularly busy and adding some dash.

A silver lining
They might have suffered a heavy loss, but Georgia Stubs got one back against her old side after being traded to Richmond last year. Drafted by the Kangaroos in the 2023 draft, the Montrose product ultimately did not make her debut in her time there due to a combination of injuries and an intense selection squeeze. In the opening minute, teammate Caitlin Greiser opportunistically drove the ball forward and after Stubs beat Erika O’Shea to the ball, she snapped truly.   

Up next
The Kangaroos await the end of round 12 to learn who they will host in a qualifying final next weekend, while this game marks the conclusion of the Tigers’ season.

RICHMOND                   2.1     2.2     5.3     5.3 (33)
NORTH MELBOURNE   5.0     8.4    12.6   15.11 (101)

GOALS
Richmond: Greiser 2, Stubs, McKenzie, Wolmarans
North Melbourne: Randall 3, Wall 2, Bogue 2, O’Loughlin, Tripodi, Gatt, Eddey, Shierlaw, Garner, Bruton, Sheerin

BEST 
Richmond: Conti, McKenzie, Kelly, Greiser, McKinnon
North Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Gatt, Tripodi, Birch, Sheerin

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
North Melbourne: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Windy Hill