AFLW 2024 Richmond v Carlton: Tigers maul goalless Blues at Ikon Park

Richmond marked superstar Mon Conti’s milestone game in style, holding Carlton goalless at Ikon Park in an emphatic 33-run win over the Blues.

Carlton have been held goalless for the first time in an AFLW game as Richmond provisionally entered the top three courtesy of an empathetic 33-point win at Princes Park on Thursday night.

The Blues, a foundation club, had never failed to split the big sticks in their previous 72 matches, but the historic 6.3 (39) to 0.6 (6) result changed that as they were restricted to their equal-lowest score.

And Carlton’s dirty night was compounded by captain Kerryn Peterson exiting the game in the first quarter with what looked like a serious shoulder injury.

MCKENZIE IN HOT WATER?

But the shine of Richmond’s fantastic win could be taken away somewhat by a potential suspension to young gun Ellie McKenzie for a sling tackle on Carlton’s Dayna Finn in the third quarter.

Finn was able to play out the game but the fact that her head made contact with the ground will surely put McKenzie under scrutiny from the match review officer.

Seriously, how about tonight. AFLW, NRLW, T20 international, netball international, boxing from just up the road & NBL underway. All live with a few pretty handy golfers in action too. What do people who don’t like sport even watch? 🍿 📺

— Lauren Wood (@LaurenHeraldSun) September 19, 2024

MAGNIFICENT MON

Mon Conti became the first woman to play 50 AFLW games for the Tigers and marked the auspicious occasion by running rampant.

Curiously, Carlton decided to let her run free in the first half and the five-time All-Australian was head and shoulders above everyone else with 20 disposals (12 contested) and seven clearances already to her credit at the main break.

Monique Conti celebrated her 50th game on Thursday night. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images.

She finished up with a magnificent 32 touches (18) and 10 clearances to be the best player on the ground.

Richmond thumped Carlton for inside 50s (39-25) and were far more potent in attack with Caitlin Greiser (three) and captain Katie Brennan (two) combining for five goals.

Grace Egan also had a super game, accumulating 24 possessions (15 contested), and McKenzie shone too with 20 disposals (10).

All smiles for Ally Dallaway's first AFLW goal 😁#AFLWTigersBlues | #gotigespic.twitter.com/BjJ30DHGOu

— RichmondW (@RichmondWomens) September 19, 2024

TIGERS IN CONTROL

Richmond adapted to the wet conditions quicker, kicking two goals in the first quarter on the back of immense pressure which saw them smash Carlton in tackles (26-15) in the opening term.

The heat Richmond applied made the Blues’ disposal sloppy and they controlled the tempo of the first half with a massive lead in marks (17-4).

After a putrid second quarter, which produced just one behind from Carlton, the Tigers put the foot down with another two goals in the third period to lead by 23 points as they doubled the Blues in forward entries (11-5) for the term.

Caitlin Greiser and Monique Conti celebrate a goal against Carlton. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

SHERAR SHOCKER

At the nine-minute mark of the third stanza, with only two goals kicked for the match to that point, Carlton’s Keeley Sherar had a brain fade as she encroached the protected zone after Greiser took a mark in the middle of the ground. The bonus real estate brought Greiser to within striking range and the former Saint made Sherar pay the full price from 40m out.

great crowd in for #[e-mail]/yHpWPYGbZe

— luke 🍉 (@lucrious) February 7, 2020

BRENNAN GOES BANG

Brennan got the Tigers off to the perfect start inside five minutes when she unloaded from 40m out on a 45-degree angle with a heavy ball for a six-pointer. Although she was done a big favour by some horrible Carlton defending which saw them fail to have anyone on the goal line to get a hand on it.

Brennan then sealed the Tigers’ third consecutive win in the final quarter with a magnificent goal as she grabbed the loose ball, danced around Ciara Fitzgerald and snapped truly from 25m out under pressure from Harriet Cordner. The opportunity was created by Kate Dempsey who spoiled Fitzgerald on the Tigers’ 50m line and then tapped the ball in Brennan’s path.