AFLW superstar Monique Conti has produced a stunning individual performance to lead Richmond to a 33-point win over Carlton, who were held goalless for the first time in club history.
Conti was at her prolific best around the ball and Caitlin Greiser kicked three goals in the Tigers' 6.3 (39) to 0.6 (6) victory at Ikon Park on Thursday night.
Reigning league best-and-fairest winner Conti racked up 32 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 clearances as Richmond (3-1) matched their best start to an AFLW season since joining the competition in 2020.
Foundation club Carlton (2-2) crashed back to earth with their equal-lowest score in 73 AFLW matches - less than a week after holding Geelong goalless.
Making matters worse for the Blues, captain Kerryn Peterson was forced to sit out most of the game with a shoulder injury sustained during the opening term.
Conti's influence was restricted by taggers over the previous fortnight but she bounced back as she became the first player to reach the 50-game milestone for Richmond.
The 24-year-old dual-sport star had plenty of help from Grace Egan (24 disposals) and Ellie McKenzie (20) in the Tigers' engine room, with club debutant Tamara Luke influential in the ruck.
"We've got a really good balance of complete talent in there and it's really nice coming out each week when any of us can stand up," Conti told Fox Footy.
"We have a really equal role to play, all of us, and when we spread the load like that we win games and we look really strong in there."
Never leave the G-Train alone at the back 🙅♀️#AFLWTigersBlues pic.twitter.com/NoOV8JR7MW
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) September 19, 2024
Greiser and captain Katie Brennan (two goals) took their chances in attack and were both on the board when Richmond led 2.1 to 0.1 at quarter time.
Peterson's injury was an early blow for Carlton, who managed the only score of a tight second term to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
Five-time All-Australian Conti was the standout with 20 disposals, 12 contested possessions and seven clearances to halftime.
Keeley Sherar helped restrict Conti to five touches in the third term but it was a small win for Carlton.
A 50-metre penalty against Sherar proved costly when Greiser kicked her second goal and another to Ally Dallaway gave the Tigers a 23-point buffer.
They kicked further clear in the final quarter when Kate Dempsey's intercept set up Brennan's second goal and Greiser added her third, which put the result to bed.
Abbie McKay (16 disposals), Madeleine Guerin (19) and Gab Pound (17) were Carlton's busiest players on a tough night.
Blues coach Mathew Buck defended his decision not to put a hard tag on Conti.
"We like our midfield, we like what they've brought over the first few rounds and the challenge was to go up against a quality Richmond midfield tonight," Buck said.
"Mon's a great player, we know that for sure, but we also knew that we couldn't just defend the game and win it that way.
"It was important that we had to try to get the ball going our way too, but it didn't come off."
Richmond take on Port Adelaide in another mid-week contest on Tuesday night in round five, while Carlton take on premiership fancies North Melbourne on Wednesday night.
