Emelia Yassir’s late goal helped Richmond earn its first victory in four games and restart their finals campaign with an 11-point triumph over Hawthorn on Friday night at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns.
At the end of the third quarter, the Tigers were trailing by nine points and separated by just one point, but they managed to rally for a comeback victory of 6.5 (41) to 4.6 (30) to keep their dreams of making the finals alive.
For Richmond, the midfield tandem of Monique Conti (35 disposals, 7 clearances) and Grace Egan (28, 5) played a key role, while Emily Bates (18, 4, and Jasmine Fleming (18, 1) led Hawthorn.
“Richmond were just absolute beasts, especially their midfielders. They really worked hard all night,” Hawthorn coach Bec Goddard said after the game.
“Our work rate really dropped off and we just watched them play some really good footy.
“If you’re a Hawks fan, you would’ve seen some really exciting moments of footy tonight.
“Keep getting excited. We are coming, we’re growing, we’re getting better.”
Hawthorn’s Irish import Aine McDonagh kicked the opening goal before Tigers skipper Katie Brennan slotted two unanswered majors to celebrate her 50th game in style.
Fellow 50-gamer Greta Bodey put boot to ball to snatch her own goal before quarter-time.
A skirmish erupted in the second term after Brennan took exception to a tackle by Mattea Breed on Laura McClelland.
McClelland was gifted a 50m penalty following a bump against Sarah Hosking by Sophie Locke and converted from inside the goal square while players were occupied by the tussle.
Bridie Hipwell kicked the only goal of the third quarter to give Hawthorn a game-high nine-point lead.
Richmond rebounded in the last term, with Courtney Jones ending Hawthorn’s three-goal run with her first touch of the night, cutting the margin to three points.
Dogged by inaccuracy in front of goal, Yassir reduced the deficit to a single point before finally breaking through on her third attempt.
That put the Tigers ahead by six points with 11 minutes left, before Caitlin Greiser sealed the win with a massive goal from 45m.
With two rounds left, 11th-placed Richmond (4-4) still have a sniff of the finals but face a significant task against sixth-placed Geelong next week, while Hawthorn (14th, 2-6) play their penultimate match against 15th-placed Port Adelaide.
Separated from fifth-placed Essendon by four points, Richmond will need to beat Geelong and Collingwood to have a hope of reaching the finals.
HAWTHORN 2.0 3.2 4.5 4.6 (30)
RICHMOND 2.1 3.1 3.2 6.5 (41)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Bodey, Fellows, Hipwell, McDonagh
Richmond: Brennan 2, Greiser, Jones, McClelland, Yassir
BEST
Hawthorn: Conti, Egan, Hosking, Seymour, Brennan, Dempsey
Richmond: Bates, Fleming, Lucas-Rodd, Ashmore, Gilroy, Locke
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nil
