Round four kicks off early Saturday afternoon at Casey Fields, as the mighty Narrm host the winless Richmond Tigers in the second week of Indigenous Round celebrations.

With ideal footy conditions forecast—20 degrees, overcast skies, and a gentle breeze — expect a fast-paced contest. Narrm enters with momentum and a dangerous forward line, while Richmond is still searching for its first win. With key injuries on both sides and pride on the line, this clash promises plenty.

The Match-up

Narrm has won its three matches to sit second on the ladder and the next four weeks (Tigers, Power, Eagles, Suns) are all winnable games.  

Whereas the Tigers have lost their three games, they have been competitive in parts but lacking in confidence. The trusted goal shooters Brennan, Greiser and Yassir have a total of six goals only for the season.  In contrast Narrm’s equivalents Hore, Zanker and Bannan have registered 13 goals and demon aerialist Tayla Harris kicked four rippers against the Saints in round 2.

Ryan Ferguson is winless in three attempts against Narrm, but the losing margins have narrowed (28, 16, 13) — a trend he’ll hope to flip on Saturday.  

Mon Conti is Richmond’s genuine playmaker, a top 3 star of the competition.  Shelley Heath will likely be assigned a run-with role hopefully nullifying Mon and recording a high tackle count.  

Last time tall left-footed midfielder Ellie McKenzie proved a tough competitor and the ruck battle of Loz Pearce and Georgia Campbell v Poppy Kelly and Montana McKinnon should be very interesting.  

With several key players sidelined, Coach Mick Stinear faces pressure to maintain momentum after last week’s gritty win over the Pies.  There are only a few fit listed players available to draw on this week, so expect a top-up name on the team sheet when it’s announced (probably as emergency).

Narrm starts firm favourites ($1.11).  Let’s hope it’s four from four for both teams 😉.

Selection this week

Frustratingly, the oversized rehab group isn’t losing weight with a third of the list unavailable.  Liv Purcell has undergone surgery this week after rupturing an ACL (her other knee) and begins the year long grind of rehab. Stay strong Liv.

Former Coates Talent League Girls star (38 goals, 14 games played) and 2023 Draft Pick 5, Alyssia Pisano, has so far struggled to insert herself in AFLW and with just three touches last week has been omitted.

Fingers are crossed for an injury-free training week and a midfield boost via a fully recovered and healthy Shelley Heath.

Meggs’ musings

Kate Sheehan, Head of Women’s Football at Richmond since 2017, was bitterly disappointed that the Tigers lost gun midfielder Eilish Sheerin to the Premiers North Melbourne in 2024.  The loss is hurting.  Richmond made the finals last year but have lost their opening three games against Swans, Bulldogs and Bombers.  

Narrm’s key injuries are to backs and mids; the forward group is healthy and extremely dangerous.

Tayla Harris is flying.  Eden Zanker is racking up marks and possessions both forward and mid while Kate Hore’s knack for goals, setting up her teammates and on field leadership is first class.

Faith is building that defensive majestrix Maeve Chaplin, supported by the return of Gaby Colvin, and the spirited young tyros Molly O’Hehir (3 games), Laela Ebert (3), Jemma Rigoni (1), Ry Wotherspoon (11) and Saraid Taylor (6), will get the job done.

And if Hanksy, Heater, Fitzsimon, Hore et al can win enough contested ball expect Narrm to score and score well at the Field of Dreams.

Go Dees!  

Tip: Narrm by 24 points 

THE GAME

Round 4: Narrm v Richmond
🗓 Saturday 6 September 2025
🕐 12:35pm (AEST)
📍 Casey Fields, Melbourne – Wurundjeri/Boon Wurrung

HEAD TO HEAD

HEAD TO HEAD

Overall: Narrm 3 wins | Richmond 0 wins

At Casey Fields: Narrm 2 wins | Richmond 0 wins

Coaches: Stinear 3 wins | Ferguson 0 wins

MEDIA COVERAGE

📺 7, 7Plus, Foxtel, Kayo
📱 AFL Live Official App

THE LAST TIME THEY MET

📅 Season 9, Round 8 – 19 October 2024
📍 Casey Fields

Melbourne 8.3 (51) defeated Richmond 5.8 (38)

GOALS
Melbourne: Bannan 4, Gall 2, Zanker, Hanks
Richmond: Greiser 3, Sheerin, McKenzie

BEST
Melbourne: Bannan, Hore, Hanks, Heath, Purcell
Richmond: Sheerin, Conti, McKenzie, Greiser, Kelly

Crowd: 2,026 at Casey Fields

The Demons Season 9 revival continued defeating the Tigers by 13 points to make it four wins on the trot keeping their slim finals hopes alive.

While everyone was celebrating Banno’s 4 majors, it’s worth noting former Tiger Saraid Taylor made a fine debut in the red and blue.

Mick Stinear commented that once Melbourne started sticking tackles and getting the ball outside to our runners we got on top.  Purcell, replete with face mask and Heathy who laid 14 tackles reducing the elite output of keeping the superstar Mon Conti, were our best along with Hanks, Hore and Bannan.

Caitlin Greiser kicked 3 late Richmond goals which helped window dress their final losing margin.

THIS WEEK’S TEAMS

MELBOURNE 

FB [28] Saraid Taylor [32] Gabrielle Colvin

HB [11] Molly O'Hehir [19] Laela Ebert [13] Maeve Chaplin

C [22] Eliza McNamara [5] Tyla Hanks [4] Paxy Paxman

HF [24] Megan Fitzsimon [6] Alyssa Bannan [7] Tayla Harris

FF [29] Eden Zanker [9] Georgia Gall

FOL [15] Lauren Pearce [30] Shelley Heath [10] Kate Hore

I/C [1] Georgia Campbell [12] Ryleigh Wotherspoon [20] Maggie Mahony [33] Lily Johnson [43] Jemma Rigoni

EMG [3] Alyssia Pisano [14] Amelia Dethridge [35] Mekah Morrissey*

IN Gabrielle Colvin

OUT Alyssia Pisano (omitted)

*Top-up player

RICHMOND

FB [16] Laura McClelland [15] Rebecca Miller

HB [6] Jodie Hicks [28] Gabby Seymour [20] Beth Lynch

C [35] Maddie Shevlin [11] Isabel Bacon [30] Ally Dallaway

HF [25] Sierra Grieves [5] Paige Scott [7] Sarah Hosking

FF [10] Montana McKinnon [9] Caitlin Greiser

FOL [14] Poppy Kelly [4] Monique Conti [22] Ellie McKenzie

I/C [17] Katelyn Cox [18] Libby Graham [24] Charli Wicksteed [33] Mackenzie Ford [12] Lauren Brazzale

EMG [38] Lulu Beatty [2] Emelia Yassir [1] Grace Egan

 IN Rebecca Miller, Sarah Hosking, Montana McKinnon, Lauren Brazzale

OUT Kate Dempsey (managed), Katie Brennan (injured), Montana Beruldsen, Emelia Yassir (omitted)

Injury List: Round 4

Melbourne

Gab Colvin — knee / 1 week

Denby Taylor foot — / 3 weeks

Tahlia Gillard — knee / 4 - 6 weeks

Sarah Lampard — calf / 4 - 8 weeks

Grace Beasley — knee / 7 - 9 weeks

Sinéad Goldrick — shoulder / TBC

Blaithin Mackin — knee / 9 - 11 weeks

Jacinta Hose — knee / Inactive

Aimee Mackin — knee / Inactive

Olivia Purcell — knee / Inactive

Richmond

Katie Brennan — knee / Test

Sarah Hosking — hamstring / Test

Montana McKinnon  — knee  / Test

Rebecca Miller — general soreness / Test

Tessa Lavey — hamstring / 4 - 6 weeks

Charley Ryan — knee / Season

Zoe Hargreaves — knee / Season

We have a lot of injuries but their Katie Brennan is a loss for them.

7 hours ago, Demonland said:

Tip: Narrm by 24 points 

Ghosty thinks Meggs is too conservative. As Paxy Paxman said (quote) We’ll [censored] smash ‘em 😂

Worst disadvantage I've ever seen.