AFLW finals 2024: Port Adelaide defeats Richmond 72-48 to advance to semi-final

What pressure? The Power have stormed into the second week of the AFLW finals, winning their first final ever against Richmond to book a date with the Hawks next weekend.

Ed Bourke

@edbourke6

2 min read

November 10, 2024 - 7:51PM

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The Power are moving on. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

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The pressure of a maiden AFLW finals appearance could not stop the Port Adelaide juggernaut, which will roll into a semi-final on a remarkable seven-game winning streak after eliminating Richmond on Sunday.

A fast-starting Power kicked three of the first four goals and never relented as the Tigers and superstar Monique Conti were given no breathing space in a 24-point defeat at Alberton Oval.

A two-goal burst from Caitlin Greiser, which included a monster set shot against the breeze, gave the Tigers the lead for the first time early in the third quarter, but they held it for a matter of seconds before the Power scored a brilliant stoppage goal against the run of play.

Star ruck Matilda Scholz palmed the ball straight into the path of Caitlin Wendland, who burst out of traffic and snapped a curling goal off her left boot to restore order.

Lauren Arnell’s side has continued its hot form. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Power kicked three goals in a row to lead by 19 points at the final break, and despite a brilliant snap goal from Emelia Yassir as she was corralled against the boundary line, the Tigers could not make inroads and made a first-week finals exit for the second time in two attempts.

Port Adelaide turned Alberton into a fortress after a middling start to the season, winning five games on the trot at the venue and drawing the biggest crowd in the first week of the finals.

But the Power will hit the road to take on Hawthorn at Ikon Park next week – a side they haven’t faced since an eight-point defeat in round 9 last year.

FINALS POWER-UP

Port Adelaide had not kicked more than nine goals in a game all season, but regained Julia Teakle from a knee injury after a three-week absence and immediately put the Tigers’ defence under the pump.

Teakle, Ash Saint and Gemma Houghton booted seven goals between them as the home side picked the perfect time to pile on their highest score for the season.

Small forward Justine Mules-Robinson didn’t hit the scoreboard but was the architect behind two goals, with her quick hands freeing up Ella Boag for an important goal on the stroke of halftime.

Gemma Houghton, YOU ARE KIDDING ðŸ¤¯#AFLWFinals | #AFLWPowerTigers pic.twitter.com/l7GlBfr8vJ
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) November 10, 2024

COSTLY BRAIN FADE

Richmond hit the front early in the third term only to be staring down the barrel of an 11-point deficit again within two minutes.

After coughing up a goal from a defensive 50 stoppage, the Tigers’ defence was again under siege from a deep entry when Libby Graham clattered into the back of Olivia Levicki.

It was never going to be missed by the umpire with the fierce reaction from the one-sided crowd in the stands, and a subsequent 50m penalty meant Levicki was walked to the line for a free goal.

FLASH OF BRILLIANCE

Cheyenne Hammond wore Monique Conti like a glove early in the game, and while the reigning league best and fairest fought fiercely to lay a game-high 11 tackles, she hardly found the ball in open play.

When Conti did get off the leash just before halftime for just her sixth disposal, she engineered a goal with a blistering run through the middle and booming kick into the path of Emelia Yassir for an open-goal finish.