RICHMOND has survived a huge fright before eventually overcoming winless Gold Coast by 15 points at Metricon Stadium.
After keeping the Suns scoreless in the second term, the Tigers opened up a 15-point lead at halftime and appeared headed for a routine victory.
But the hosts tore up the script in the third term, with their manic pressure and superior energy levels stunning the visitors whose lead was at one stage trimmed to just three points.
However, that is as close as Gold Coast would get as Richmond survived the onslaught and steadied with the next three goals before running out 6.5 (41) to 4.2 (26) winners.
Tigers captain Katie Brennan led from the front again, kicking three goals to go with 15 disposals and five marks, while star midfielder Monique Conti was a welcome return from a hamstring injury as she amassed a game-high 25 disposals as well as seven tackles.
Reigning No.1 draft pick Ellie McKenzie (20 possessions and a goal), Kate Dempsey (22) and Sarah Hosking (21) also played crucial roles for Richmond.
Kate Surman was Gold Coast’s best player with 16 disposals and a goal, and she enjoyed good support from Maddison Levi (two goals), who laid a game-high nine tackles, Lauren Ahrens (21 touches), Alison Drennan (20) and Kalinda Howarth (18).
Richmond looked more threatening in attack all night and they almost tripled Gold Coast for marks inside 50 (11-4).
The Suns did all the early attacking but despite recording seven of the first eight inside-50s, only had one Levi goal to show for their bright start.
After settling into the contest, the Tigers wrested back the momentum and made the hosts pay for their inefficiency, dominating the territory battle and kicking the next three goals to assert themselves.
The ball hardly left Richmond’s forward half in the second quarter, placing Gold Coast’s defence under enormous pressure.
The hosts hit back hard after halftime, but their efforts were ultimately in vain, leaving them entrenched in the bottom two on the ladder with an 0-7 record.
The expansion club has now gone winless in their past eight matches in a streak that dates back almost a full year to March 15, 2020.
Meanwhile, after losing their first 10 AFLW matches, Richmond has now won two of its last three.
(C) AAP 2021
RICHMOND 1.0 3.3 4.5 6.5 (41)
GOLD COAST 1.0 1.0 3.1 4.2 (26)
Goals: Richmond: K Brennan 3 C Bernardi C Wakefield E McKenzie. Gold Coast: M Levi 2 K Surman S Virgo.
Umpires: Matt Baigent, Chris Melin, Sam Whetton.
Official Crowd: 907 at Metricon Stadium.
