Richmond started well in wet conditions on Sunday afternoon at UTAS Stadium, but were overrun by North Melbourne in the second half to go down by two goals, 3.9 (27) to 2.3 (15).

The Tigers fought hard, but the flag favourite Kangaroos overcame the atrocious conditions to extend their best-ever start to an AFLW season with the victory over plucky Richmond.

The result left Darren Crocker's side unbeaten on top of the ladder, but it came at a cost when North captain Emma Kearney sustained a hamstring injury early in the first quarter.

Jasmine Garner (24 disposals, one goal), Mia King (22 touches) and Ash Ridell (22) were all influential for North as they gradually ground down their opponents.

Garner was involved in an entertaining duel with Eilish Sheerin (17 disposals, six clearances) and kicked the Kangaroos' sealer late in the final term.

Richmond star Monique Conti (32 disposals, seven clearances) was on another level with her cleanliness and precision with the ball, regularly making a mockery of the wet and windy conditions.

The Tigers, who were without captain Katie Brennan and winger Maddie Shevlin because of ankle injuries, led for most of the first half after Emelia Yassir pounced to give them the first goal into a stiff breeze in the opening term.

North had to wait until there was one minute left in the first half to post their first major when Alice O'Loughlin converted a free kick.

O'Loughlin's goal briefly tied the scores but Richmond led by one point at the main break.

The Kangaroos lifted in the second half, when a series of behinds and Bella Eddey's neat finish from the pocket gave them a nine-point advantage at the final change.

Caitlin Greiser gave Richmond a sniff when she converted a free kick and cut the margin back to five points with more than seven minutes left to play.

But Garner, who missed a set shot earlier in the last quarter, made the most of her next opportunity to give North breathing space again and they hung on.

Richmond (4-2) hold their spot in the top eight despite their first defeat since round one.

The Tigers will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face Collingwood in Week 6 next Saturday at the Swinburne Centre.

NORTH MELBOURNE    0.2     1.2     2.6     3.9 (27)
RICHMOND                    1.1     1.3     1.3     2.3 (15)

GOALS

North Melbourne: O'Loughlin, Eddey, Garner
Richmond: Yassir, Greiser

BEST
North Melbourne: Garner, King, Riddell, Tripodi
Richmond: Conti, Sheerin, Dempsey, Kelly

INJURIES
North Melbourne: Kearney (hamstring)
Richmond: Nil

LATE CHANGES
North Melbourne: Nil
Richmond: Sarah Hosking (managed) replaced in selected side by Stella Reid

Crowd: TBC at UTAS Stadium