The Richmond Football Club secured their second Victorian Wheelchair Football League premiership with a 30-point win over Essendon in Sunday’s Grand Final in front of a huge crowd at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

 

The highly-anticipated match was a chance for the Bombers to not only ride the momentum generated by their stunning Preliminary Final win over Collingwood, but also to hand the Tigers their second loss of 2022, having been the only team to defeat them this season with a 7-point win in Round 4. However, Richmond came into this match with other ideas, as a 6-goal to 2 first quarter gave the Tiges a 23-point lead at quarter time – which extended to 34 at the long break courtesy of 6 first-half goals from Richmond superstar Vincent Naidu.

 

Essendon never counted themselves out of this match, and another strong performance from Sam Maraldo – scoring 6 out of his 7 goals after half-time – may have proved the difference against any other opposition, as it did for the Bombers last week. 

 

Richmond ruck Teisha Shadwell saw her awarded the Robert Rose Medal as the best player afield in the Grand Final, as the Tigers went on to win the VWFL Grand Final: 17.8 (110) to Essendon’s 12.8 (80). 

 

We thank Essendon Captain and Coach Louis Rowe who steps down after 5 years at the helm - Congratulations on your career.

 

RICHMOND 6.1 10.3 13.6 17.8.110

ESSENDON 2.2 4.5 9.6 12.8.80

 

Robert Rose Medallist: Teisha Shadwell (Richmond)

 

GOALS

Richmond: Naidu 9, Henderson 8

Essendon: Maraldo 7, Perito 3, Logan 2

 

Credit: VWFL Facebook Page.