Melbourne have secured a spot in the AFLW finals series after dismantling Richmond with ease in Pride Round.
Friday night's 14.10 (94) to 5.2 (32) triumph was a return to form after the Demons' surprise first-ever AFLW loss to Gold Coast the previous week.
The reverse to the Suns was front of mind for Demons coach Tom Wilson ahead of the Tigers clash at Melbourne's IKON Park.
“We understood last week was far from our best performance,” Wilson said before the first bounce.
“We thought around the ball, we probably got a bit of a lesson in that space.
“Contest is going to be really important. (Richmond) having Monique Conti and Ellie McKenzie in there, it's a real weapon for them.”
Conti returned to the field for the first time since an Achilles injury in round three and wasted no time getting to work.
Within seconds of the first bounce, the club's seven-time-consecutive best-and-fairest winner won the centre clearance for the Tigers.
It was a welcome return given Richmond’s struggles this season to win the loose ball. The Tigers rank second-last in the competition for contested possession.
But despite Conti's return, and Richmond’s ruck Poppy Kelly dominating with 23 hit outs, the Demons won the centre contest time and again through Olivia Purcell and Tyla Hanks.
The pair had heeded coach Wilson's call and each picked up more than 30 disposals and had a combined 13 clearances.
Their dominance set up Melbourne's 47 inside-50s to Richmond's 18, and spelled a long night for the Tigers' defence.
Ryleigh Wotherspoon kicked four goals to give the Demons some reassurance ahead of a finals series in which they may be without lead goal kicker Mia Austin, who has undergone throat surgery and does not yet have a set return date.
“We’ve got a lot of forwards that can kick goals, and even the mids can come through and kick goals, and so we’re well supported and well balanced,” Wotherspoon said after the game.
“We’re pretty unstoppable."
