Forward Chloe Scheer has continued her rise from the depths of injury despair, powering Geelong to the summit of the AFLW ladder with a 34-point win over Richmond.
After underlining their premiership credentials with a rousing 36-point defeat of Hawthorn last Thursday, the Cats snared their seventh straight victory at Princes Park on Friday to leap above defending premiers North Melbourne.
Scheer dazzled in the 7.12 (54) to 3.2 (20) win, kicking three majors in blustery conditions to go equal top of the league’s goal-scoring charts with Hawthorn’s Aine McDonagh (18 goals).
Her glittering form comes despite the 26-year-old missing the entire 2024 and 2025 seasons with foot and knee injuries, respectively.
Co-captain Nina Morrison (26 disposals, seven tackles, one goal) was also prolific, while forward Mikayla Bowen was busy with 20 disposals and seven tackles.
But it wasn’t a smooth-sailing victory as Richmond employed unrelenting pressure until midway through the second quarter when the Cats sprang into life.
It was a stunning team goal finished off by forward Jacqueline Parry that started the visitors’ onslaught as they piled on five of the next six majors while the Tigers’ wheels fell off.
Richmond missed out on a chance to spring into the top eight.
Midfielder Ellie McKenzie (20 disposals, six tackles) was a shining light, but the Tigers will hope forward Laura McClelland recovers quickly after she left the field with a shoulder injury.
The home team put the foot on the throttle early, scoring the first goal through forward Olivia Wolmarans, although Scheer slotted a settling major to help the visitors lead by two points at quarter-time.
The Tigers hit back when forward Gabby Seymour pounced on Wolmarans’ handball before Parry secured a crucial score.
Minutes later, Morrison thumped the ball through the centre sticks, but Ana Mulholland snagged her first AFLW goal to close the deficit.
Forward Jasmin Stewart kicked a major after the siren to help the visitors extend their advantage to 27-20 at the main break.
The Cats flew out of the gates after half-time, dominating the inside 50 count and ballooning their lead by 29 points at three-quarter time.
Richmond was kept scoreless in the final term as the visitors cruised to victory.
AAP
By
