AFLW: Richmond-Essendon draw in historic Dreamtime match in Darwin

A draw against Essendon was enough to book the Tigers a spot in the finals, but midfielder Eilish Sheerin says they won’t rest on their laurels ahead of a blockbuster next week against the Hawks.

A draw against Essendon was enough for Richmond to lock in a return to finals but midfielder Eilish Sheerin says the Tigers have their sights set on shaking up November.

A win against Essendon in Darwin would’ve kept Richmond in the hunt for a top four spot but instead, the Tigers will have to wait until the final day of the home and away season to find out who and where they’ll play in week one of the finals.

If the Tigers lose to Hawthorn in week 10, they’ll likely be leapfrogged by Port Adelaide who face GWS. It will mean an interstate elimination final against the Power if other results go to script.

But Sheerin says that Richmond won’t die wondering and would throw everything at the 2nd placed Hawks to try and retain hosting rights in week one of finals.

Sheerin’s Tigers locked in a finals berth on Saturday night. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“It’s a good reward for the trust we have in our process and the work we’ve done,” Sheerin said of Richmond’s return to finals. “We can’t rest on our laurels.

“We’ve got another big game next week against an in-form team. We want to roll into finals winning games, not making up the numbers. It’s a goal we set ourselves after going out a couple of years ago in straight sets.

“They’re the ‘it’ team at the moment. I think our midfield can go with any midfield. We’re strong across all three lines. It’ll be a great battle.”

The Tigers last played finals back in season seven but were bailed out in straight sets after losses to Brisbane and North Melbourne.

Sheerin believes that Richmond is better prepared for the intensity of the finals, given that their last three games have been decided by 13 points or less.

Sarah Hosking was lost to a hamstring. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“The last couple of games we’ve had, this one and Melbourne as well, felt like finals,” she said. “Even the week before that against the Cats.

“All three games have all been so hard fought and it sets us up to play football in November.

“Both us and Essendon are desperate to play finals so we both brought it. We’re a little bit disappointed. You always want to win.”

Both clubs are bracing for bad news on the injury front, with the result overshadowed by what appeared to be serious injuries to Richmond forward Sarah Hosking (hamstring) and Essendon ruck Steph Wales (knee).

Essendon coach Natalie Wood said Wales would undergo scans back in Melbourne after her knee buckled in a ruck contest. The 21-year-old was spotted on crutches at Darwin airport on Sunday.

Now let’s pretend that we’re friends for the next 4 hours 🤝 Essendon and Richmond sharing a charter flight back to Melbourne after last night’s dramatic Dreamtime draw. Bombers at the front, Tigers at the back. pic.twitter.com/pXoAi2TWFq

— Eliza Reilly (@ByElizaReilly) October 27, 2024

While Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson conceded Hosking’s hamstring injury “doesn’t look good” after doing more damage to the same muscle she had major surgery on during the off-season.

Sheerin said that the game, even though the two sides could not be split, was befitting of the occasion of the first Dreamtime clash in Darwin.

“It’s wonderful to give back,” she said. “Richmond has such a strong relationship with this area, the Tiwi Islands and Darwin.

“It’s a spectacle that I hope continues. I’m proud to say that I played the first Dreamtime game in Darwin.

“We got to play in front of the Maurice Rioli stand and that family is such a huge part of our club. It’s been amazing to come up here and experience that. This community loves football.”

DARWIN DREAMTIME DRAW: KEY DON HURT IN HISTORIC AFLW MATCH

Dreamtime in Darwin had Richmond and Essendon dreaming of locking up a finals spot.

But come the final siren, the two traditional rivals could not be separated and will have to wait until the final week of the season to learn more about their November ambitions.

After a frenetic final quarter, the Tigers and Bombers finished level on 6.6 (42) after Richmond captain Katie Brennan’s late snap fell the wrong side of the post.

Both teams needed to win desperately that it was played like a final. A win for the Tigers would’ve meant that the top four was still within reach. While victory for the Bombers would’ve all but locked in a top eight spot and gone close to finalising their finals competitors.

But neither team planned for scores to be level. Now on 22 points, Essendon has left the door ajar for Melbourne (20 points) and Geelong (18) to swoop should the Bombers lose to Carlton in the final round of the home and away season.

It was injury carnage in a frenetic final five minutes at TIO Stadium as Richmond forward Jess Hosking appeared to suffer a serious hamstring tear only for Steph Wales’ knee to buckle in a late ruck contest, delaying the game for a few minutes.

It was an unfortunate subplot to an otherwise enthralling contest as both sides scrapped for their respective finals ambitions.

Georgia Gee gets to it first 🤝#AFLWDonsTigerspic.twitter.com/oWNDfsFR5A

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 26, 2024

Heart goes out to Steph Wales 😔

The Dons ruck has gone down with a knee injury 💔 pic.twitter.com/3SEnI87ffT

— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 26, 2024

Tigers midfielder Ellie McKenzie looked to have given Richmond the winning advantage when she kicked the only goal of the final term from a stoppage inside 50. But neither team could find an opening in the final few minutes, both sides kicking two points apiece.

Richmond led by as much as 13 points early in the second quarter when Eilish Sheerin kicked the Tigers third. But Daria Bannister kept the Bombers in touch with a vital goal in her 50th AFLW game.

It was a special moment for the Tasmanian. It’s taken Bannister three clubs and seven seasons to hit the milestone, having overcome a right and left torn ACL, a broken collarbone, and a torn meniscus.

Essendon started to dominate territory and did as they pleased with the ball, linking up with uncontested marks around the ground. It led to red time goals to Bonnie Toogood and Steph Wales as the Bombers levelled the scores at the main break.

Essendon’s momentum extended beyond the half-time break as Toogood was the beneficiary of a time wasting free kick. Richmond defender Bec Miller handed the ball back to Poppy Kelly instead of the umpire and Toogood made the Tigers pay.

Georgia Gee got one out the back to extend Essendon’s lead. But Mon Conti made it a one kick game at the final break after a terrific contested grab in the pocket, setting up a grandstand finish.

Emelia Yassir celebrates a goal. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

CAPTAIN’S COURAGE

Katie Brennan spent the whole week fighting to prove her fitness after an early exit against Melbourne in week eight due to an ankle injury.

But you wouldn’t have known it as the Richmond captain slammed home two majors in the first quarter to put any doubts to bed.

Brennan failed to see out the Tigers’ loss to the Demons last week after twisting her right ankle early. The 32-year-old underwent a fitness test at Richmond’s captain’s run on Friday and was passed fit to play despite appearing to struggle slightly with some change of direction.

But Brennan got busy in the first quarter, kicking Richmond’s first courtesy of a well-weighted snap inside 50. It was a nice way to bring up her 75th career goal, entrenching her in the top five AFLW goal kickers of all time.

Then she slotted her second after being met strongly by Essendon defender Maddison Gay, winning a free kick for high contact.

KB is something else 😮‍💨#AFLWDonsTigerspic.twitter.com/6adNi8MnK9

— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) October 26, 2024

Maddie Shevlin is dumped by Amber Clarke. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

SWEAT CITY

Both the Tigers and Bombers spoke in the lead-up to the game about how they were embracing the conditions and had spent the last few weeks preparing for what Darwin had to offer.

But it quickly became clear that this was no regular game at Punt Road or Windy Hill.

When the clash kicked off at 6:45pm local time, it was still 32 degrees and 70 per cent humidity.

It meant that the AFL’s heat policy was enacted, giving each team an extra two minutes break at quarter time and a bonus four minutes at half-time. Both clubs were also afforded an extra two water carriers.

IT'S A DREAMTIME DRAW! 😳 pic.twitter.com/w1aZ5rOhy6

— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 26, 2024

The cool rooms behind each club’s bench were the most popular place to be at TIO Stadium, players seeking instant relief when they came from the field. Both clubs also spent their quarter and three-quarter time breaks in the cool rooms.

Mon Conti quickly learnt that the ball doesn’t behave as expected in Darwin when an attempted bounce skidded away from her. And the dew didn’t dissipate as the contest wore on.

Originally published as AFLW: Richmond-Essendon draw in historic Dreamtime match in Darwin