AFTER 386 days and 11 matches, Richmond has emphatically broken through for their first-ever AFLW victory, smashing a woeful Geelong by 47 points at Kardinia Park.
Led brilliantly by star duo Monique Conti and Katie Brennan, the Tigers blitzed the Cats with a devastating first half which saw the visitors boot the opening six goals while keeping Geelong scoreless, to put the result beyond doubt well before halftime.
Adding insult to injury for the Cats, star player Olivia Purcell (right knee) limped off the ground in the second quarter amid fears she may have ruptured her ACL.
The 9.6 (60) to 2.1 (13) result in the battle of the cellar-dwellers ensured the Cats remain winless from five matches so far this season, still searching for their own drought-breaking win, having not tasted victory in 358 days.
Geelong has already recorded 13 goalless quarters and eight scoreless quarters in what has been a train wreck of a season.
Conti continued her outstanding year with 17 of her 26 disposals coming in the game-busting first half, while captain Brennan bettered her outstanding performance from last week with 17 touches, five marks and three goals.
Ellie McKenzie, Courtney Wakefield and Sarah Hosking were also instrumental in ending the contest early on in the piece.
The Tigers pounced early, ambushing the Cats with exceptional pressure in the first quarter to register 10 of the first 12 inside-50s and take a 13-point lead at quarter-time.
Richmond maintained their manic intensity in the second period and Geelong simply could not cope, with a raft of defensive errors, three of which handed Richmond goals, leading to a total capitulation.
The visitors dominated the first half with a whopping 47 more disposals (128-81), 14 more inside-50s (19-5) and 25 more handball-receives as they opened up a commanding 39-point lead at the major break, before outscoring the hosts by eight points in a far less eventful second half.
(C) AAP 2021
RICHMOND 2.1 6.3 7.4 9.6 (60)
GEELONG 0.0 0.0 1.0 2.1 (13)
Goals: Richmond: K Brennan 3 C Wakefield 2 E McKenzie G Seymour K Jacques S Frederick. Geelong: A McDonald R Cranston.
Venue: GMHBA Stadium.
