Richmond AFLW's finals campaign has come to an end after a 36-point loss to North Melbourne on Saturday at the Swinburne Centre.
The Roos – inspired by an ultra-determined Jas Garner – produced their highest score of the season in the 11.8 (74) to 6.2 (38) win, while the Tigers should be proud of their improved season.
As expected, Richmond tagger Meg Macdonald renewed acquaintances with Garner, but the superstar Roo was more than up to the task, recording nine disposals and four clearances in the first term.
Macdonald started the second term on the bench receiving treatment on her left knee, but saw out the game against the Roo, who finished with 22 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles and two goals.
Having shots on goal has never been an issue for North Melbourne, but its goalkicking accuracy has cost them in a few games this season.
That was not the case in the second quarter, piling on five goals as Garner pushed forward to continue to break the tag, and Emma King's height proved to be a troubling factor for the Tigers' backline.
The Tigers didn't go into their shell after half-time, starting to even up the midfield contest and seeing the margin only extend by one point, but the gap was too big to bridge.
Small forward Emelia Yassir was a constant threat in attack for the Tigers, while key forward Courtney Wakefield can hold her head up high if it turns out Saturday was the 35-year-old's final AFLW game, having been chaired off at the conclusion of the game.
For the Roos, Ash Riddell produced a strong four-quarter game, with Jenna Bruton's pressure around the contest key to the result, and Brooke Brown and Emma Kearney working well off half-back.
RICHMOND 3.0 4.0 6.0 6.2 (38)NORTH MELBOURNE 3.2 8.5 10.6 11.8 (74)
GOALSRichmond: Yassir 2, Cox, Wakefield, Conti, BrennanNorth Melbourne: Abbatangelo 2, Garner 2, O'Loughlin 2, E. King, Eddey, Gavalas, Randall, Eddey
BESTRichmond: McKenzie, Sheerin, Conti, Brennan, SeymourNorth Melbourne: Garner, Riddell, Bruton, E. King, Kearney, Brown
INJURIESRichmond: Conti (groin), Sheerin (thumb), Macdonald (knee)North Melbourne: M. King (ribs)
Reports: Nil
Crowd: 2,439 at the Swinburne Centre
