Richmond finds itself in uncharted territory this week, preparing for an AFLW game as favourite. Check out the full teams and our expert tips for Round 7.
It’s not quite Tiger time yet — but Richmond’s AFLW is certainly no pushover anymore.
The Tigers claimed a historic AFLW win against Geelong in Round 5 and backed up that effort with a competitive performance against flag contender North Melbourne.
Richmond will find itself in an unfamiliar position when it enters a game as favourite against Gold Coast on Friday night in a game which kickstarts Round 7.
In a huge boost, Monique Conti returns for Friday’s match.
North Melbourne’s clash with Western Bulldogs and Adelaide’s game against Melbourne shape as classics, while Carlton needs a win against Fremantle.
Check out the full teams and our expert tips below.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL TIPS AND TEAMS FOR ROUND 7
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ROUND 7 TEAMS
Gold Coast v Richmond
Metricon Stadium, 6.40pm AEST
SUNS
B: D.Heslop 25 J.Pregelj 42
HB: E.Keaney 30 L.Ahrens 7 C.Hammond 29
C: K.Howarth 23 A.Drennan 33 D.D’Arcy 20
HF: T.Groves-Little 3 M.Levi 6 P.Parker 1
F: B.Perry 16 S.Virgo 22
Foll: L.Bella 2 S.Watson 14 K.Surman 26
I/C: H.Dunn – C 24 L.Kaslar 11 W.Randell 15 S.Riley 8 L.Single 13
Emerg: J.Baird 18 M.Ritson 12
In: M.Levi, B.Perry
Out: J.Stanton (injured), J.Hickey (omitted)
TIGERS
B: R.Miller 15 H.Cordner 23
HB: S.D’Arcy 12 A.Makur Chuot 34 I.Ross 21
C: C.Bernardi 6 S.Hosking 7 T.Lavey 37
HF: M.Brancatisano 5 S.Molan 1 K.Brennan – C 3
F: T.Stahl 24 C.Wakefield 8
Foll: G.Seymour 28 E.McKenzie 22 M.Conti 4
I/C: L.McClelland 16 K.Dempsey 19 S.Dargan 17 K.Jacques 10 S.Frederick 14
Emerg: S.Sansonetti 18 H.McLaren 29
In: M.Conti, L.McClelland
Out: P.Monahan (omitted), H.Burchell (managed)
ROUND 7 EXPERT TIPS
Matt Turner 36
Richmond 12
St Kilda 3
North Melbourne 5
Adelaide 7
Fremantle 11
Brisbane Lions 3
West Coast 15
Last Week 7
Ellie Blackburn 34
Richmond
St Kilda
Western Bulldogs
Adelaide
Fremantle
Brisbane
West Coast
Last Week 6
Ebony Marinoff 34
Richmond
St Kilda
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Fremantle
Collingwood
West Coast
Last Week 7
Glenn McFarlane 34
Richmond 11
St Kilda 8
North Melbourne 5
Adelaide 3
Fremantle 4
Collingwood 1
West Coast 15
Last Week 7
Liz Walsh 34
Richmond 3
St Kilda 5
North Melbourne 14
Adelaide 12
Fremantle 7
Brisbane Lions 1
West Coast 6
Last Week 7
Chris Cavanagh 33
Richmond 12
GWS Giants 1
North Melbourne 12
Adelaide 6
Fremantle 12
Collingwood 1
West Coast 1
Last Week 7
Kate Salemme 33
Richmond 3
St Kilda 22
North Melbourne 17
Adelaide 2
Fremantle 11
Collingwood 4
West Coast 1
Last Week 7
Rebecca Williams 33
Richmond 10
St Kilda 8
North Melbourne 7
Adelaide 11
Fremantle 9
Collingwood 4
West Coast 6
Last Week 7
Michael O’Brien 31
Richmond 25
St Kilda 15
North Melbourne 5
Adelaide 15
Carlton 1
Collingwood 20
West Coast 20
Last Week 7
Mark Robinson 31
Richmond 12
St Kilda 5
North Melbourne 12
Adelaide 2
Fremantle 7
Brisbane Lions 6
West Coast 22
Last Week 7
Kate McCarthy 29
Richmond
St Kilda
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Fremantle
Collingwood
West Coast
Last Week 6
Daniel Andrews 28
no tips this week
Last Week 3
Sarah Jones 28
Richmond 3
St Kilda 7
North Melbourne 12
Adelaide 5
Fremantle 1
Collingwood 16
West Coast 13
Last Week 7
Darcy Vescio 25
Richmond
St Kilda
North Melbourne
Adelaide
Carlton
Brisbane Lions
Geelong
Last Week 5
Kiss of Death 8
Gold Coast 13
GWS Giants 13
Western Bulldogs 13
Melbourne 13
Carlton 13
Collingwood 13
Geelong 13
Last Week 0
HEARTBREAKING BLOW FOR BLUES MIDFIELDER
Carlton midfielder Mimi Hill has been ruled out for the rest of the AFLW season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
The 18-year-old tore her ACL in the fourth quarter of the Blues’ Round 6, 33-point win over Geelong on Sunday, with scans following the game confirming her injury.
Hill was Carlton’s first pick in the 2020 draft, having been a prolific ball-winner with the Oakleigh Chargers.
She made her debut in Round 1 and has played every match since, averaging 12.3 touches a game. In Round 5, she kicked two goals against North Melbourne.
Carlton’s interim head of women’s football, Brett Munro, said the Blues would support Hill every step of the way throughout her recovery.
“This is obviously really disappointing news for Mimi, she has worked so hard to establish herself at the elite level in such a short period of time, something that our members and supporters would have no doubt enjoyed seeing in all six games she played this year,” he said.
“Mimi has made such an incredible impact on our group from the moment she walked through the door six months ago.
“While the feeling for us right now is one of sadness, our whole football club will be right there with Mimi to ensure she returns to the field to pick up right where she left off.
“Mimi is not only a talented footballer but a quality person, with great character.
“That is why we know she will overcome this challenge and continue her hard work and determination to become a great player for our football club for years to come.”
Hill saw a surgeon on Tuesday ahead of her rehabilitation.
The Blues are currently eighth on the AFLW ladder — and just outside finals contention — with three wins and three losses and they will face a firing Fremantle at home on Sunday.
With three rounds remaining and the Blues needing to pull themselves up the ladder and into the Top 6 to qualify for finals, this weekend’s game is crucial to their season.
DEVASTATING BLOW: STAR CROW OUT FOR SEASON
Adelaide defender Nikki Gore will miss the remainder of the AFLW season after breaking her left ankle in the opening minutes of the Crows’ 70-point demolition of Gold Coast on Saturday.
Gore had to be helped from Norwood Oval only two minutes into the match after landing awkwardly on her ankle following an aerial contest across halfback.
The 20-year-old underwent surgery on Sunday to repair the break and the club’s head of women’s football, Phil Harper, said Gore would be sidelined for the rest of the season.
“Scans post-match revealed the break and it was decided that surgery was the best course of action to get Nikki back on her feet,” he said.
“Unfortunately, that means we won’t see her out there again this year, which is really disappointing because Nikki has had a terrific year playing down back for the first time.
“The club will rally around Nikki and she will still be a massive part of our team in the lead up to finals.”
Gore was Adelaide’s No. 1 draft pick in 2018 and after playing only one game in 2019, she has played every possible Crows game since.
This season has been a standout in her three-year AFLW career, where she’s reinvented herself as a small defender, away from her more traditional midfield role.
Until Saturday’s game, in 2021 she’s averaged a career-high 8.3 disposals and 3.6 tackles, as well as 2.6 marks.
There are three games remaining before the finals series start, with the Crows heading to Casey Fields to face Melbourne on Saturday evening.
In better news for Adelaide, midfielder Hannah Button is a possibility to face the Demons on Saturday, despite dislocating her shoulder against the Suns.
Club medical staff said her shoulder went back into place cleanly and the 2019 premiership player had pulled up well after the game.
Button, who has enjoyed a successful return from a torn ACL, is racing the clock to be fit for Saturday’s fixture.
Adelaide is currently sitting fourth on the ladder with five wins and one loss. The top six teams will go through to finals.
