An AFLW match in Blacktown was postponed by half an hour after a poisonous snake entered the playing field.
A red-bellied black snake, which only bites under extreme conditions, was spotted on the field before Richmond’s win over GWS Giants.
“It’s pretty interesting,” Briana Harvey, the Giants’ head of women’s soccer, said during the delay.
“There’s a little red-bellied black snake on the ground right now, just in one of the far pockets,” she said.
“Obviously, for the safety of everyone here, we have to pause the match for the time being.”
A football match was postponed by 30 minutes after a snake was spotted on the pitch
A snake catcher removed the venomous creature in Blacktown on Sunday
The snake catcher picked up the snake by its tail, held it up for the cameras and then placed it safely in a container.
Playing in 30 degree heat, Richmond held off a desperate Greater Western Sydney to take their second win of the AFLW season.
The visitors emerged victorious 7.11 (53) to 5.4 (34) at the Blacktown International Sportspark in Sydney’s west on Saturday.
With the game starting 30 minutes later than scheduled, the Tigers started on the back foot, losing midfielder Jess Hosking (ankle) just minutes after the first siren.
GWS controlled possession in the first quarter, with more than half of the play taking place in their front half.
Richmond conceded nine of its first eleven in the fifties of the match, but the Giants were wasteful with their hard-fought territory.
Both sides entered the second quarter goalless, with Richmond leading by two.
Annalyse Lister scored her first AFLW goal in 35 games to open the Giants’ account thanks to a free kick.
Six minutes later, star Tiger Caitlin Greiser (one goal, thirteen disposals) replied to put the hosts back on track.
Captain Katie Brennan (one goal, 18 disposals) showed her class could pile another goal on the Giants, increasing the margin to eight points by half-time.
Richmond then won a comfortable victory over GWS in enemy territory
Greiser looked confident of dribbling the Sherrin across the goal court, but a flying Grace Hill denied her a second major in the third stanza.
Prolific Alyce Parker (two goals, 21 disposals, six clearances) and rugby sevens Olympic gold medalist Chloe Dalton put the ball in play to keep the Giants within three points.
The orange tsunami threatened to engulf the Tigers when Parker grabbed her second, supported by a goal from Haneen Zreika (one goal, 13 disposals).
But a huge effort from Monique Conti (one goal, 22 disposals, seven clearances) and Emelia Yassir (two goals, ten disposals, two clearances) regained the lead for the Tigers.
Only three points separated the teams three quarters of the way.
Under the Giants’ pressure, Brennan and Greiser were inaccurate in front of goal and kicked behind each goal.
The Giants began to falter as fatigue set in, allowing Courtney Jones to really kick and score the first goal of the past term.
A major from Sarah D’Arcy sealed the win for the Tigers, with Parker limping off the field with a knee injury.
The Giants have started a season 0-3 for the first time, but coach Cam Bernasconi said the club was not upset.
“Yes, the wins haven’t happened yet, but the girls are really enjoying each other’s company,” Bernasconi said.
‘And we are on a journey together. We’re three rounds in (without a win) and that shows how strong we are as a collective – that we still lean on each other and believe in each other.
“We see that what we do will measure up to the best.”