THE GOOD news? Walyalup has secured a commanding 25-point win over Richmond on the road at Ikon Park.

The bad news? All-Australian ruck Mim Strom suffered a shoulder injury in the process.

TIGERS V DOCKERS Full match details and stats

The Dockers started inauspiciously, with the forwards and defenders lining up at the wrong end of the ground, but the temporary blip in concentration was just that, and the visitors were a class above in the 9.6 (60) to 5.5 (35) victory.

Walyalup's forward-line pressure was first class in the opening term, hassling and harrying the Tigers into coughing up the footy, and capitalising on opportunities once the ball turned over.

Gabby O'Sullivan led the way in that regard, at one point running down Beth Lynch – who had taken a strong intercept mark and was attempting a quick play-on – to then kick her second goal as the Dockers compounded the pressure in the second term.

Walyalup kicked three quick goals in a fierce second quarter, and Richmond responded by sending Gab Seymour to defence, Lynch to the wing and Katie Brennan forward to start the third term.

But the restructure was to no avail.

Noa McNaughton kicked it into party time in the third quarter, getting the better of Georgia Stubs after the Tiger had attempted to bump but lost her footing and the Docker gathered and snapped truly, pushing out to a 32-point lead with her first League goal and quickly followed with her second.

Ash Brazill may have announced mid-week that 2026 is going to be her final season, but the veteran is still full of run, patrolling across half-back and repelling plenty of Richmond forays.

Strom's absence – particularly in the fourth term – began to hit home, with Bella Smith and Eden Zanker sharing the ruck load and Poppy Kelly able to palm it down to her midfielders with ease.

But the margin was far too great for any last-gasp comeback, despite the Tigers' stronger fourth-quarter showing, kicking 2.2 and keeping the Dockers scoreless.

Gab Newton was one of Walyalup's best, finishing with 18 disposals and four clearances and covering for the absence of Aisling McCarthy (knee soreness), while O'Sullivan was outstanding in the first half when the heat was on.

Eighteen-year-old Olivia Wolmarans was the pick of the Tigers forwards, kicking 2.3, and proving a handful inside 50.

Crucial win for Walyalup
It's expected to be a very congested middle portion of the AFLW ladder, particularly given the 12-round home-and-away season, and wins are magnified as a result. This was a match the Dockers were expected to win against a retooling Richmond missing its best two players, and win they did – on the road with a hostile crowd providing plenty of noise. It was a well-rounded performance that should give some of the younger Dockers some confidence, and was driven by some steady heads in Newton, Kiara Bowers, Brazill and Emma O'Driscoll.

Life without Conti and McKenzie
It was a very inexperienced Richmond midfield that started the match against Walyalup's seasoned trio of Bowers, Newton and Ange Stannett. Mon Conti had been a late withdrawal the day prior due to Achilles soreness, and co-captain Ellie McKenzie is still a week away as she recovers from a broken arm. Issy Bacon had 11 touches in the first quarter, lining up in the middle alongside Mackenzie Ford and former Docker Dana East. The Tigers got the edge in the clearances, but the older Dockers found far too much of the footy around the ground.

What's up next?
Richmond plays host again but it will be at the unusual home ground of Windy Hill as the Punt Road surface undergoes work, taking on St Kilda at 1.05pm AEST next Sunday. The Dockers head back west where they will face Essendon at 5.05pm AEST also on Sunday afternoon

RICHMOND     2.2     2.2     3.3     5.5 (35)
WALYALUP       3.1     6.3     9.6     9.6 (60)

GOALS
Richmond: Wolmarans 2, Cleary, Stubs, Greiser
Walyalup: O'Sullivan 3, McNaughton 2, Miller, Verrier, Brisbane, Smith, 

BEST
Richmond: Bacon, Kelly, Graham, Yassir, Wolmarans
Walyalup: Newton, Bowers, Brazill, O'Sullivan, Zanker

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Walyalup: M.Strom (shoulder)

LATE CHANGES
Richmond: Monique Conti (Achilles soreness), Fina Dethlefsen (TBC) replaced in selected side by Georgia Stubs, Kate Dempsey
Walyalup: Nil

Crowd: TBC at Ikon Park