Melbourne locks in AFLW finals with big Pride Round win over Richmond
Melbourne is through to the AFLW finals series after beating Richmond 14.10 (94) to 5.2 (32) in Pride Round. The 62-point win came at Princes Park on October 16 in Round 10 of the 2026 NAB AFLW Season. ABC
The Friday night clash started at 7:15 pm. The venue is listed as IKON Park in Melbourne’s game-day guide, the modern name for the historic Princes Park ground. Melbourne arrived ranked second on the ladder. Richmond was listed 13th.
The gap was everywhere. Melbourne’s midfield owned the ball from the first bounce. Olivia Purcell and Tyla Hanks each collected more than 30 disposals — kicks and handballs — and combined for 13 clearances, which are clean wins out of stoppages after a tackle, ball-up or throw-in.
That supply drove a 47-18 count for inside-50s, entries into the attacking 50-metre arc. Richmond ruck Poppy Kelly fought hard with 23 hit-outs, taps from the ruck contest to teammates, but the Tigers could not hold the ball further up the field. Richmond sits second-last in the league for contested possession, winning the ball under direct physical pressure. ABC
Ryleigh Wotherspoon kicked four goals for Melbourne in what AFL.com.au described as a career-best performance. Her leading and finishing gave Melbourne a focal point inside 50. It mattered with lead goalkicker Mia Austin sidelined after throat surgery and without a set return date.
Richmond had a big inclusion. Star midfielder Monique Conti returned after injuring her Achilles in round three. Conti has won Richmond’s best-and-fairest, the club award for its best player across the season, seven years in a row. She could not lift the Tigers into the contest against Melbourne’s numbers around the ball.
For Melbourne, the response was sharp. The previous week’s loss to Gold Coast was the Demons’ first-ever AFLW loss to the Suns. Coach Tom Wilson’s side answered with stronger pressure and cleaner ball movement against Richmond.
What makes this stand out is the timing. Melbourne did not just steady after a shock loss. The Demons banked a finals berth and did it with depth, with Wotherspoon stepping up while Austin is out and the midfield setting the terms.
