A spirited third-quarter effort from Richmond was not enough to edge past Geelong on Saturday afternoon in Bendigo, as the Tigers fell short by 22 points.

Geelong added the first two majors of the third term to establish a game-high 41-point buffer, but had to withstand four consecutive Richmond majors that quarter before winning 10.7 (67) to 7.3 (45).

06:32

AFLW R4: Match highlights

Highlights of the Round 4 match against Geelong.

The game was fast-paced from the get-go as both teams searched for their first win of the season.

Following a tight first quarter, Geelong kicked away in the second term with a six-goal haul. The Cats posted their highest AFLW tally of 38 points only last week, but they surpassed that by half-time against the Tigers at Bendigo's sun-drenched Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Richmond also recorded its highest ever AFLW score and showcased promising signs of improvement.

01:27

AFLW R4: Wakefield boots three

Courtney Wakefield kicks three goals in the Round 4 match against Geelong.

The aggregate tally between the two sides fell just short of the AFLW record, owned by Adelaide and Collingwood, which combined for a score of 116 points in the final round of 2017.

Sabrina Frederick's long goal with 15 seconds left in the third quarter was the Tigers' fourth on the trot and slashed the margin to only 18 points at the final break.

The Tigers' dashing dual-sport star Monique Conti was brilliant from the get-go and arguably best afield, gathering five possessions by midway through the opening quarter and 28 in total.

01:58

AFLW R4: Conti a standout

Highlights of Monique Conti's Round 4 match against Geelong.

Tigers skipper Katie Brennan did not play out the game after being monitored for concussion following an incident just before three-quarter time. 

However, Geelong outplayed Richmond with an army of contributors, with Rocky Cranston (15, two goals) and defender Meg McDonald (16, six marks) turning it on from opposite ends. 

Hometown girl

Fourth-gamer Kodi Jacques' maiden goal was special beyond just that feat. 

Jacques had more family and friends in the crowd than normal at the Bendigo venue, after playing football for Bendigo's Thunder and Pioneers teams, and netball for nearby Heathcote.

The 19-year-old gleefully accepted Monique Conti's handball and finished the play superbly.

00:21

AFLW R4: Jacques scores in front of home crowd

Bendigo local, Kodi Jacques kicks her first AFLW goal in front of her home crowd.

Making ground

There were good signs for the Tigers on Saturday.
 
Monique Conti is a difference-maker in the midfield and a genuine star of the competition, while defender Phoebe Monahan has blossomed since crossing from the Giants in the off-season.

Katie Brennan rose to the occasion as the Tigers charged back in the third quarter.

Courtney Wakefield kicked a career-best three goals and provides a quality target, top-10 draft pick Sophie Molan makes good decisions, and the athletic Akec Makur Chuot shows promise.

RICHMOND 1.1 3.1 6.1 7.3 (45)
GEELONG 1.3 7.4 9.7 10.7 (67)

GOALS
Richmond: Wakefield 3, McClelland, Bernardi, Jacques, Frederick
Geelong: Clarke 2, Cranston 2, Darby, Higgins, Teague, Garing, Purcell, Crocket-Grills

BEST
Richmond: Conti, Wakefield, Monahan, Brennan, Molan, Campbell
Geelong: Purcell, Cranston, McWilliams, M.McDonald, A.McDonald, Crocket-Grills

INJURIES
Richmond: Brennan (head/neck)
Geelong: Higgins (wrist)

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Nil

Reports: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Queen Elizabeth Oval