Tigers claim fourth spot with heart-stopping draw against Roos

Richmond have secured fourth spot and an AFLW double chance after drawing with North Melbourne in a pulsating clash at Arden St.

The Tigers rushed through a behind in the last minute to tie the scores, 4.3 (27) to 3.9 (27).

Fourth spot was the prize in Sunday’s clash, as North would have snared the double chance if they had won by a couple of goals.

But the Tigers, who boasted a seven-game winning streak before this round, snatched fourth from Geelong.

Ellie McKenzie starred for Richmond with two goals and 15 possessions, while Meg Macdonald crucially shut down North star Jasmine Garner with her hard tag.

Mia King and Ash Riddell were best for the Kangaroos.

With McDonald locking down Garner and North captain Emma Kearney out with a knee injury, the Tigers took control early and kicked the first two goals.

Riddell marked on the quarter-time siren and kicked a badly-needed goal for the Kangaroos, who were being outplayed.

North’s woes deepened in the second term when Tahlia Randall tripped over herself and appeared to suffer a serious lower leg injury.

She limped off, but surprisingly returned to the field only a few minutes later.

McKenzie then flew for a mark and crashed into North star Mia King and Tigers teammate Meagan Kiely.

King and Kiely were flattened and had to leave the field.

They returned to the game, but King needed more treatment on her back during the third term.

The Tigers led by 10 points at half-time and it flattered North, given Richmond’s domination of general play.

North went to work in the third term and had the first 10 inside 50s, but they kicked a wasteful 2.5 for the quarter and still trailed by five points.

Jenna Bruton kicked a goal in the first minute of the last term to put North in front, but that was the last goal of the game as the match became a grinding duel.

North’s Erika O’Shea left the field in the final quarter with a head knock.

Bombers end debut season with win over Port

Essendon have finished an impressive debut season on a high after running away from Port Adelaide as the rain cleared in the second half to secure a 27-point triumph.

The Bombers’ fourth victory of the season locks them into 10th place and the highest finish of the four expansion clubs that joined the AFLW for season seven.

Goals were hard to come by in wet and wild conditions in the first half but the Bombers took control once the sun appeared to set up a 5.7 (37) 1.4 (10) win at Alberton Oval on Sunday.

Bombers forward Daria Bannister was one of few players who looked comfortable in all conditions, and slotted a clever banana kick during the slippery second term for a late goal of the year contender.

The crafty forward added another major under the sun in the final term to stretch the lead to a comfortable five goals and all but ensure the result.