Essendon and Richmond have played out a thrilling draw in the inaugural AFLW Dreamtime in Darwin clash on Saturday night.
Both sides had their chances in the final quarter, but neither could find the winning moment with the scores locked at 6.6 (42) apiece.
During the thrilling closing stages, Essendon ruck Steph Wales suffered a serious knee injury in devastating scenes.
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Wales’ knee buckled when contesting a boundary throw-in and she immediately collapsed in a heap.
The 21-year-old was in obvious discomfort as she was taken from the field on a stretcher.
“Her knee just buckled. That’s horrible,” Jason Bennett said on Channel 7.
“Can’t help but feel for Steph Wales in this situation,” Katie Brennan added.
The injury came a minute after Richmond suffered their own blow with Jess Hosking limping off.
Hosking pulled up while chasing a loose ball with immediate fears for another hamstring injury.
She was later seen on crutches with ice applied to her hamstring.
Daria Bannister had the chance to be the hero for Essendon but her set shot with four minutes remaining drifted wide to put the Bombers up by a point.
The Tigers pushed forward and were eventually able to tie the scores after Katie Brennan’s soccer attempt from close range just missed.
The result leaves Richmond’s top-four hopes hanging by a thread. They remain in sixth place, but will need a string of results to go their way to finish with the double chance.
Essendon remain in eight place and will need to win their final game to book a spot in the finals.
The draw opens the door for Melbourne, Geelong or St Kilda to potentially sneak into the eight at the Bombers’ expense.
“I don’t know what to feel … at least we take away two points,” said Bombers co-captain Bonnie Toogood, who kicked two goals.
Midfielders Georgia Nanscawen and Maddie Prespakis starred for Essendon, while Tigers star Eileesh Sheerin was best afield.
Conditions were typical of the Top End – hot and humid, with extra measures such as mist fans and cool rooms in place for the players.
Brennan had been in doubt after she suffered an ankle injury last week in the loss to Melbourne.
But the Tigers captain was outstanding on Saturday, kicking her team’s two first-quarter goals and dishing off another at the start of the second.
Richmond led by 13 points in the second quarter, with the Bombers falling down in attack and the Tigers excellent on turnover.
Georgia Gee and Toogood then combined superbly twice late in the half, with Toogood kicking one goal and Wales another to tie the scores.
It was a big comeback from the Bombers, who led the clearances 17-8 and the inside-50s 23-13 at the main break.
Essendon threatened to kick clear with two goals in the third term and opened up an 11-point lead.
Tigers star Mon Conti took an excellent contested mark and goaled from an acute angle to keep her team within six points at the last change, setting up a frenetic final quarter.
– With AAP
