In-form Port Adelaide has extended its winning streak to seven games after launching their maiden AFLW finals campaign with a clinical 24-point victory over Richmond in the elimination final.
The Power amassed their highest score of the season in their 11.6 (72) to 7.6 (48) triumph in front of a bumper crowd of 5,172 at Alberton on Sunday, punching their ticket to a semifinal date with Hawthorn next weekend.
Matilda Scholz and Abbey Dowrick celebrated their returns from injury by starring in the centre square, while Ash Saint (three goals), Julia Teakle (two) and Gemma Houghton (two) kept Port’s scoreboard moving.
The Tigers limped towards the line, literally, slumping to their season-ending fourth successive defeat and finishing with superstar captain Katie Brennan spending most of the final quarter bench-bound after injuring her right hamstring.
The Power’s direct approach and tall attack stretched Richmond’s defence from the outset.
Houghton got Port on the board early before back-to-back goals to Saint and Teakle — returning after a knee injury — inside the last 90 seconds of the opening quarter gave the hosts a 14-point cushion at the first change.
Richmond were favoured by the prevailing southerly in the second term and, led by Brennan and Eilish Sheerin, looked dangerous in space.
The Tigers sliced the margin back to seven points before Ella Boag threaded a superb major for Port on the half-time siren.
Richmond burst out of the blocks to start the third period, racking up the first seven inside-50s and pinching their first lead when Caitlin Greiser kicked her second and third in the opening six minutes.
But the Tigers’ revival was brief.
Port flipped the script with the last 10 inside-50s of the quarter, started by Caitlin Wendland’s superb left-foot snap from the Power’s first third-quarter entry.
Olivia Levicki slotted a free kick before Saint, with 16 seconds left before three-quarter-time, dribbled through her second to extend Port’s buffer to 19 points.
Emelia Yassir nailed a wonderful fourth-quarter goal from a tight angle to give the Tigers a pulse, but their faint hopes ended with Brennan’s injury, several others succumbing to cramps, and Saint booting her third.
AAP
