RICHMOND and North Melbourne have played out a thrilling draw, with the Tigers subsequently locking in fourth spot and the double chance, while the Kangaroos have finished eighth as the home and away season draws to a close.
A Courtney Wakefield shot just dropped short and was rushed through for a behind to tie scores up at 27-apiece in the final minute of the game, with Richmond recording 4.3 and a wasteful North Melbourne kicking 3.9.
After controlling vast swathes of the first quarter – including a nice set shot from Stella Reid, who is growing in confidence game-by-game – Richmond gave up the easiest of North Melbourne goals in the dying seconds, conceding three marks inside 50 in one passage of play and a straightforward Ash Riddell major.
The Roos noticeably lifted their pressure in the second quarter, with multiple smothers early, but were unable to make much headway on the scoreboard.
North Melbourne owned the third term, with Richmond unable to clear its defensive half, but the Roos' inaccuracy issues returned at a horrible time, kicking 1.4 and one out on the full (1.5 for the quarter), before the Tigers whisked it downfield for Ellie McKenzie's second.
Jenna Bruton snapped a goal to take the lead early in the fourth, and behinds were exchanged until the final siren.
Kim Rennie (HS protocols) was a late withdrawal in what appeared to be a significant blow to the Roos' ruck stocks, but Emma King stood tall with 27 hitouts, receiving support from Vikki Wall.
Unheralded Richmond tagger Meg Macdonald played a crucial role on Jasmine Garner, holding one of the AFLW best and fairest favourites to five disposals and zero clearances in the first half.
Garner's influence lifted as the game progressed, finishing with 13 disposals, four inside 50s and one clearance.
The absence of skipper Emma Kearney (knee soreness) was also noticed across half-back, but Mia King and Bruton performed admirably throughout the game, and Hannah Bowey made a composed debut in defence.
McKenzie was simply superb for Richmond, while Monique Conti and Grace Egan worked hard around the contest.
The battle for the AFLW best and fairestSecondary to the race for top four was the individual honours potentially up for grabs, with two of the favourites in Garner and Conti going head to head. In terms of the umpire votes for the day, it's unlikely Garner will feature in the top three overall players, while Conti may pinch a vote or two.
Up nextRichmond will take on Brisbane in an away final and have a second chance in its back pocket.
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 1.3 2.8 3.9 (27)RICHMOND 2.1 3.1 4.1 4.3 (27)
GOALSNorth Melbourne: Riddell, Abbatangelo, BrutonRichmond: McKenzie 2, Wakefield, Reid
BESTNorth Melbourne: M.King, Bruton, Riddell, E.King, GarnerRichmond: McKenzie, Conti, Egan, Sheerin, Macdonald
INJURIESNorth Melbourne: O'Shea (head knock)Richmond: Nil
LATE CHANGESNorth Melbourne: Kim Rennie (HS protocols) replaced in selected side by Charli GranvilleRichmond: Nil
Crowd: 3147 at Arden Street Oval
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