North Melbourne have bolstered their AFLW premiership credentials, piling the pain on newcomers Richmond with a 56-point win at Ikon Park.
A five-goal second-quarter blitz set up the barnstorming 12.4 (76) to 2.8 (20) win, lifting the Kangaroos to second place in conference A and leaving Richmond floundering at the bottom of the same ladder.
Ashleigh Riddell (21 touches), Emma Kearney (three goals, 12 disposals), Jenna Bruton (17 touches) and Jasmine Garner (one goal, 16 disposals) were dominant, with Monique Conti (18 disposals) and Katie Brennan (one goal, 14 touches) also among Richmond’s best in front of 3697 fans.
Richmond were competitive in the first term but lacked composure inside 50, while North Melbourne capitalised on their early chances to snatch a nine-point lead at the first break.
Riddell was in everything early, with 10 first-term touches, while Garner snapped the opener, then Kearney made Phoebe Monahan pay for a reckless 50-metre penalty by kicking North’s second.
North Melbourne ramped up their midfield ascendancy in the second quarter and made it count on the scoreboard.
Kaitlyn Ashmore booted a pair of goals in quick succession, with Abbey Green and Kate Gillespie-Jones piling on two more.
Kearney booted her second after intercepting an errant handball to nudge the lead beyond 40 points shortly before half-time.
Ashmore snapped her third after the main break, before Richmond – off the back of a lift from Conti – worked back into the contest.
When Richmond’s first goal finally came, it was spectacular.
Sabrina Frederick-Traub took the ball out of the ruck and kicked it over her head from the goal square.
Brennan then drilled a superb long-range goal for her side’s second.
Richmond’s resurgence was short-lived, with Green kicking her second to help ensure a 40-point buffer at the final change.
North’s Daisy Bateman booted the opening goal of the final term before Kearney hammered home the result with her third.