The AFLW finals campaign of Shepparton’s Grace Egan and her Richmond teammates came to a crushing end on Saturday afternoon, falling to North Melbourne by 36 points in a semi-final at Punt Road Oval.
The last Goulburn Valley export strutting their stuff on the finals stage, Egan’s efforts were not enough to overcome the Kangaroos juggernaut, which produced a stunning five-goal second-term to set up the clinical 11.8 (74) to 6.2 (38) triumph.
Playing her customary position on the wing and through the midfield, Egan was one of Richmond’s most prolific contributors, collecting 13 disposals, laying three tackles and taking a mark.
The semi-final loss brought to an end a standout maiden season for Egan in the yellow and black.
Featuring in all 12 of the Tigers’ matches this season, the Shepparton export was a beacon of consistency, averaging 16.4 disposals, 4.8 tackles and 1.3 marks a game.
The AFLW season now moves into its preliminary final stage, with Brisbane taking on Adelaide at Metricon Stadium on Friday night and Melbourne battling North Melbourne on Saturday afternoon at Ikon Park.
In other news, Shepparton United’s Keeley Skepper, Benalla’s Becky Webster and Echuca’s Annabel Johnson were rewarded for excellent seasons with selection in the AFLW’s 22-under-22 squad.
A shining light in an otherwise dismal year for the Blues, Skepper played in all bar one game in her debut season and averaged an impressive 10.9 disposals, 2.7 tackles and 2.2 marks a game to be selected as a forward.
Webster was once again a model of consistency through the midfield for the Cats, averaging a career high 17.6 disposals, 3.6 tackles and 2.4 marks.
While Johnson also enjoyed an equally as impressive season at Kardinia Park, picking up 10.7 disposals, 3.3 marks and 2.1 tackles a contest across half-back.