A BLISTERING six-goal second quarter has propelled Geelong to its first victory of the season, leaving vanquished opponent Richmond as the sole winless team in conference A.
The Cats posted their highest AFLW tally of 38 points only last week, but they comfortably surpassed that by half-time against the Tigers at Bendigo's sun-drenched Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Midfielder Olivia Purcell (20 disposals) was outstanding during that period, along with the tenacious Amy McDonald (12, five tackles) and strong-marking forward Phoebe McWilliams (13).
They also added the first two majors of the third term to establish a game-high 41-point buffer, but had to withstand an unlikely Richmond comeback before winning 10.7 (67) to 7.3 (45).
The aggregate tally between the two sides fell just short of the AFLW record, owned by Adelaide and Collingwood, which combined for a score of 116 points in the final round of 2017.
Sabrina Frederick's long goal with 15 seconds left in the third quarter was the Tigers' fourth on the trot and slashed the margin to only 18 points at the final break.
Katie Brennan was integral in Richmond's revival – setting up teammate Courtney Wakefield's third major – but her clash with Cat Jordan Ivy on the three-quarter time siren proved telling.
Brennan laid motionless on the ground after the incident and never returned, watching as Julia Crocket-Grills, another good performer, dribbled through the sealing goal.
The Tigers' dashing dual-sport star Monique Conti was brilliant from the get-go and arguably best afield, gathering five possessions by midway through the opening quarter and 28 in total.
However, Geelong overwhelmed Richmond with an army of contributors, with Rocky Cranston (15, two goals) and gun defender Meg McDonald (16, six marks) turning it on from opposite ends.
RICHMOND 1.1 3.1 6.1 7.3 (45)
GEELONG 1.3 7.4 9.7 10.7 (67)
GOALS
Richmond: Wakefield 3, McClelland, Bernardi, Jacques, Frederick
Geelong: Clarke 2, Cranston 2, Darby, Higgins, Teague, Garing, Purcell, Crocket-Grills
BEST
Richmond: Conti, Wakefield, Monahan, Brennan, Molan, Campbell
Geelong: Purcell, Cranston, McWilliams, M.McDonald, A.McDonald, Crocket-Grills
INJURIES
Richmond: Brennan (head/neck)
Geelong: Higgins (wrist)
LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Nil
Reports: Nil
