RICHMOND is one of only two AFLW teams yet to break through for a win in season 2025, with the Tigers and GWS Giants stranded on 0-4. Richmond has a better percentage and therefore sits 17th, with coach Ryan Ferguson of the opinion the players are potentially “overdoing” it in order to get results sooner.

One such example was with the Tigers’ forwardline structure against Narrm (Melbourne), with Richmond’s latest loss coming at Casey Fields by 37 points in Round 4 on Saturday. When asked about what was not working given the various talls Ferguson had rotated through there, the Tigers coach said it was more about the desperation to make something happen rather than remaining logical.

“It’s almost sometimes you’re trying so hard to make things happen that that freedom that we try and message and try and train and we will and we’ll get it, but just the want and as long as you can get a little bit, almost like a bit clogged because you want it so bad and you almost overdo it,” Ferguson said. “I thought there was times we didn’t give our forwards near enough a good chance when we were out and we overused the hands.

“We broke the bubble but went lateral instead of going forward and didn’t put them under enough pressure for our forwards to take full advantage, and then there were times where we fumbled at the wrong time or we didn’t execute with that last kick going in. There’s a couple of little things going on so we keep chipping away. Sometimes it can feel a little way off, but it can click as well. Sometimes it’s not as far away as you think.”

While the six-goal deficit looked poor, Ferguson said it was the second quarter where all the damage was done, as Melbourne booted 3.4 to 0.2 to lead by 29 points at half-time. Richmond did not kick its first major util the final term, outscoring the Dees in the last stanza 2.3 to 2.1, but losing 8.9 (57) to 2.8 (20).

“Second quarter was really disappointing mostly,” Ferguson said. “Thought the last quarter we obviously we weren’t able to hit the scoreboard as much as we would like, but I thought the game looked a lot different. Whereas the second quarter we fought so hard in the first, almost whether we succumbed to a bit of frustration or want.

“You want to make your move, you want to use the wind, and then when they get one or two, that frustration of wanting something and it’s not happening and then going away from what we need to do, going away from that fight and that spirit and then the ability to win the ball, explode and set the game up in attack.

“I felt like we got a little bit muddled in that second quarter and lost our way a little bit. Fought tremendously hard in the second half and the second half looked very different, but it was really that one quarter was a big telling part of the game.”

Ferguson said his players would stay accountable to the “energy, work rate, fight and spirit” that were key pillars within the club, and he believed the form would turn around. It all starts on Sunday when the Tigers host Geelong at Ikon Park from 1:05pm.