ONE of four expansion teams joining the AFL Women’s competition in 2020, Richmond are set to burst onto the scene, having built a strong side with plenty of key players among the playing group. With a good mix of experience and young talent, the Tigers will want to impress from the get-gov to prove they have what it takes in a tough conference. The Tigers picked up a host of talented youth at the 2019 AFLW Draft to add to an exciting bunch of mature-age players to form a real competitive side for the 2020 season.

KEY PLAYER:

Katie Brennan (key forward)

The inaugural signing for the Tigers, Brennan is sure to tear up the field in season 2020 after a stellar three seasons captaining the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs’ leading goalkicker in 2019, Brennan will have plenty to offer her new side, oozing class and able to create something out of nothing with her explosiveness and ability to impact the scoreboard. Her leadership experience will come in handy with the new side, and with plenty of talent on show will be able to lead from the front.

RISING STAR:

Sophie Molan (midfielder)

The top Richmond pick at the 2019 AFLW Draft – and Richmond’s inaugural female draftee, Molan is a classy midfielder with speed and clean hands to boot. Named in both the NAB League Girls Team of the Year and AFL Women’s Under-18 All Australian team in 2019, Molan has the ability to find the ball and deliver it cleanly out of the pack, with her resilience well on show with all three sides she played for in her top-age year – GWV Rebels, Vic Country and Western Bulldogs in the VFLW. With experience coming up against similarly match opponents and many with more years on her, Molan is sure to be a key cog across the field.

WATCH FOR:

Sabrina Frederick (forward/ruck)

The key forward had a quiet season in 2019 with the Brisbane Lions so will want to really come out early to prove she has what it take with the highly talented Tigers. Frederick performed well on the VFL Women’s stage in 2019, booting 10 goals in nine games and putting her physicality on show – something she was unable to put forward with the Lions last year.

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CONFERENCE OPPONENTS: Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Gold Coast, GWS GIANTS, North Melbourne.

FIXTURE:

Round 1 – vs. Carlton
Round 2 – @ Gold Coast Suns
Round 3 – vs. North Melbourne
Round 4 – vs. Geelong
Round 5 – @ GWS GIANTS
Round 6 – @ St Kilda
Round 7 – vs. Brisbane Lions
Round 8 – @ Adelaide

While the Tigers take on 2019 grand finalists, Carlton straight off the blocks, they have a relatively simple lineup early in the season coming up against fellow newbies, Gold Coast in Round 2, making for an interesting battle that will really see how Richmond shapes up through the middle of the season. The side then has three 2019 top-three sides in a row with plenty to watch out for before finishing off the season against two past grand finalists in Brisbane and Adelaide – with the reigning premiers sure to want to finish their season on a high. All in all a fairly even season, but the Tigers will need to perform well early to be in with a chance in the late stages.

PREDICTION: 4th/5th in Conference A

The Tigers are a bit of an unknown quantity coming into the competition for the first time, but will want to speed straight out of the blocks to make for a successful inaugural season. With North Melbourne and Adelaide in the conference it is safe to say Richmond will be set a challenge, but have plenty in their repertoire to create an exciting season.