A BLISTERING six-goal second quarter has propelled Geelong to its first victory of the season, leaving vanquished opponent Richmond as the sole winless team in conference A. 

CATS KEEP TIGERS WINLESS Full match coverage and stats

The Cats posted their highest AFLW tally of 38 points only last week, but they comfortably surpassed that by half-time against the Tigers at Bendigo's sun-drenched Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Midfielder Olivia Purcell (20 disposals) was outstanding during that period, along with the tenacious Amy McDonald (12, five tackles) and strong-marking forward Phoebe McWilliams (13).

They also added the first two majors of the third term to establish a game-high 41-point buffer, but had to withstand an unlikely Richmond comeback before winning 10.7 (67) to 7.3 (45).

The aggregate tally between the two sides fell just short of the AFLW record, owned by Adelaide and Collingwood, which combined for a score of 116 points in the final round of 2017.

Sabrina Frederick's long goal with 15 seconds left in the third quarter was the Tigers' fourth on the trot and slashed the margin to only 18 points at the final break.

Katie Brennan was integral in Richmond's revival – setting up teammate Courtney Wakefield's third major – but her clash with Cat Jordan Ivey on the three-quarter time siren proved telling.

Brennan laid motionless on the ground after the incident and never returned, watching as Julia Crockett-Grills, another good performer, dribbled through the sealing goal.

The Tigers' dashing dual-sport star Monique Conti was brilliant from the get-go and arguably best afield, gathering five possessions by midway through the opening quarter and 28 in total.

However, Geelong overwhelmed Richmond with an army of contributors, with Rocky Cranston (15, two goals) and gun defender Meg McDonald (16, six marks) turning it on from opposite ends.

Breaking the duck
It rained goals at QE Oval on Saturday and five new names cashed in on the score sheet. 

Geelong trio Anna Teague, Renee Garing and Julia Crockett-Grills and Richmond's Kodi Jacques and Laura McClelland all kicked their first goals at AFLW level.

Hometown girl
Fourth-gamer Kodi Jacques' maiden goal was special beyond just that feat. 

Jacques had more family and friends in the crowd than normal at the Bendigo venue, after playing football for Bendigo's Thunder and Pioneers teams, and netball for nearby Heathcote.

The 19-year-old gleefully accepted Monique Conti's handball and finished the play superbly.

Double blow
Geelong destroyed Richmond in contested situations in the second quarter and translated that to an 11-2 inside-50 advantage for the term. 

The Cats certainly deserved to keep the scorers busy, but two soft 50m penalties within minutes of each other to Anna Teague and Renee Garing certainly helped.

Making ground
Richmond remains winless through its first four games and may have played another team without a victory, but there were good signs on Saturday.
 
Monique Conti is a difference-maker in the midfield and a genuine star of the competition, while defender Phoebe Monahan has blossomed since crossing from the Giants in the off-season.

Katie Brennan has copped some criticism for her impact, but she rose to the occasion as the Tigers charged back in the third quarter.

Courtney Wakefield kicked a career-best three goals and provides a quality target, top-10 draft pick Sophie Molan makes good decisions, and the athletic Akec Makur Chuot shows promise.

RICHMOND    1.1       3.1       6.1       7.3 (45)
GEELONG        1.3       7.4       9.7       10.7 (67) 

GOALS
Richmond: Wakefield 3, McClelland, Bernardi, Jacques, Frederick
Geelong: Clarke 2, Cranston 2, Darby, Higgins, Teague, Garing, Purcell, Crockett-Grills 

BEST
Richmond: Conti, Wakefield, Monahan, Brennan, Molan, Campbell
Geelong: Purcell, Cranston, McWilliams, M.McDonald, A.McDonald, Crockett-Grills 

INJURIES
Richmond: Brennan (head/neck)
Geelong: Higgins (wrist) 

LATE CHANGES
Geelong: Nil
Collingwood: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Crowd: 4906 at Queen Elizabeth Oval