AFLW star Monique Conti has produced a shocking particular person efficiency to steer Richmond to a 33-point win over Carlton, which was held goalless for the primary time in membership historical past.
Conti was at her prolific greatest across the ball and Caitlin Greiser kicked three targets within the Tigers’ 6.3 (39) to 0.6 (6) victory at Princes Park on Thursday evening.
Reigning league best-and-fairest winner Conti racked up 32 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances as Richmond (3-1) matched their greatest begin to an AFLW season since becoming a member of the competitors in 2020.
Basis membership Carlton (2-2) crashed again to earth with its equal-lowest rating in 73 AFLW matches — lower than per week after holding Geelong goalless.
Making issues worse for the Blues, captain Kerryn Peterson was pressured to sit down out a lot of the sport with a shoulder damage sustained in the course of the opening time period.
Conti’s affect was restricted by taggers over the earlier fortnight however she bounced again as she grew to become the primary participant to succeed in the 50-game milestone for Richmond.
The 24-year-old dual-sport star had loads of assist from Grace Egan (24 disposals) and Ellie McKenzie (20) within the Tigers’ engine room, with membership debutant Tamara Luke influential within the ruck.
“We have got a extremely good stability of full expertise in there and it is very nice popping out every week when any of us can get up,” Conti informed Fox Footy.
“We now have a extremely equal position to play, all of us, and once we unfold the load like that we win video games and we glance actually sturdy in there.”
Greiser and captain Katie Brennan (two targets) took their probabilities in assault and had been each on the board when Richmond led 2.1 to 0.1 at quarter time.
Peterson’s damage was an early blow for Carlton, who managed the one rating of a good second time period to cut back the deficit to 11 factors.
5-time All-Australian Conti was the standout with 20 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 7 clearances to halftime.
Keeley Sherar helped prohibit Conti to 5 touches within the third time period nevertheless it was a small win for Carlton.
A 50-metre penalty towards Sherar proved expensive when Greiser kicked her second objective and one other to Ally Dallaway gave the Tigers a 23-point buffer.
They kicked additional clear within the ultimate quarter when Kate Dempsey’s intercept arrange Brennan’s second objective and Greiser added her third, which put the consequence to mattress.
Abbie McKay (16 disposals), Madeleine Guerin (19) and Gab Pound (17) had been Carlton’s busiest gamers on a tricky evening.
Blues coach Mathew Buck defended his resolution to not put a tough tag on Conti.
“We like our midfield, we like what they’ve introduced over the primary few rounds and the problem was to go up towards a top quality Richmond midfield tonight,” Buck mentioned.
“Mon’s an ideal participant, we all know that for certain, however we additionally knew that we could not simply defend the sport and win it that means.
“It was essential that we needed to attempt to get the ball going our means too, nevertheless it did not come off.”
Richmond takes on Port Adelaide in one other mid-week contest on Tuesday evening in spherical 5, whereas Carlton takes on premiership fancies North Melbourne on Wednesday evening.
AAP
