RICHMOND has defied the odds to knock off the previously undefeated Brisbane Lions, in a statement win by four points at the Swinburne Centre.

Brisbane – who came into the game with a percentage of 322 – has comprehensively blown sides out of the water this season, but the Tigers showed nerves of steel in the 2.6 (18) to 1.8 (14) triumph.

The game was heavily affected by a swirling breeze to the Punt Road end, but both Brisbane and Richmond failed to capitalise on their respective advantages in the first and second quarters.

03:15

Last two mins: Tigers hold off ladder leaders for massive scalp

The thrilling final moments between the Tigers and Lions at Swinburne Centre

The tall forwards had their moments in the sun in the first half, with Tiger Courtney Wakefield saluting against the wind and Lion Taylor Smith capitalising at the other end, but it was small teammate Greta Bodey who looked most threatening.

Wakefield kicked her second against the wind halfway through the third term, giving the Tigers the lead after the Lions had taken a one-point advantage into the main break.

TIGERS v LIONS Full match coverage and stats

Richmond hung on grimly in the last quarter as Brisbane kept coming again and again, regardless of the fact it was kicking against the wind, with inaccuracy ultimately costing the Lions.

Defender Maddie Shevlin played her best game in Tigers colours with 24 disposals and 658m gained, while Belle Dawes was Brisbane's best, the tenacious midfielder recording 23 disposals and seven clearances.

04:30

AFLW S7 Highlights: Richmond v Brisbane

The Tigers and Lions clash in round five of the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Competition

A battle to watch
Monique Conti – captaining in the absence of Katie Brennan (rested) and vice-captain Sarah Hosking (hamstring) – once again looked a class above with her use of the footy and spread from the stoppage, but she didn't have it all her own way. Cathy Svarc paid closer attention to the superstar in the third term, with Conti then going head to head with Emily Bates in the last. The Tiger finished with 14 disposals for the game, her lowest total for the season.

Five minutes of chaos
Brisbane peppered the goals in the final five minutes but some desperate Richmond defence kept them alive – Emily Bates had a snap with five minutes remaining, but her shot drifted right, Dakota Davidson took a strong mark near the goalsquare in the dying minutes, and attempted to play on, but her shot was smothered by Gabby Seymour. Sophie Conway also had a shot knocked through by Libby Graham.

00:32

Oh no, Dakota plays on from square and gets smothered

Dakota Davidson coughs up the chance to level the scores after deciding to play on from an unmissable position

Say what?
"By far (it's Richmond's best ever win). This was a breakthrough moment, we felt like we had chances against the Crows and couldn't put them away. So to play against the best team in the competition and in our opinion, outright premiership favourites, it was the breakthrough we'd been looking for." – Richmond coach Ryan Ferguson

"That sort of desperation was probably needed earlier in the game, if we really wanted to be desperate about winning the contest. It's disappointing when you leave it to that. We didn't play well enough all day, and credit to the opposition, they played a brand that actually suited the conditions of the day, which was really desperate and just basic footy, which was needed on a day like today." – Brisbane coach Craig Starcevich

Up next
Richmond will be hoping for four on the trot, against bogey side Gold Coast at the Swinburne Centre. Brisbane will be looking to get back on the winners list against Essendon at Moreton Bay.

RICHMOND      1.0     1.3     2.4     2.6   (18)
BRISBANE        1.3     1.4     1.5     1.8   (14)

GOALS
Richmond: Wakefield 2
Brisbane: Smith

BEST
Richmond: Conti, Shevlin, Sheerin, McKenzie, Seymour, Wakefield
Brisbane: Dawes, Bates, Svarc, Conway, Koenen

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Brisbane: Nil