Bannan kicked two goals in the opening quarter of Saturday's match to help set the tone as the Demons eased to an 8.3 (51) to 5.8 (38) victory.
The Demons led by 33 points late in the match, but three goals to Richmond forward Caitlin Greiser in the last five minutes helped Richmond add respectability to the scoreboard.Â
Richmond's Caitlin Greiser added three goals in the last five minutes for the Tigers. (James Worsfold/AAP PHOTOS)
Melbourne's finals hopes looked dead and buried after their 72-7 loss to Essendon on September 27 dropped them to a 1-4 record.
But four wins on the trot have catapulted Melbourne (5-4) right back into the finals mix with just two rounds remaining.
Melbourne face in-form Hawthorn and struggling Collingwood in their last two games, needing to win both to make finals.
Demons coach Mick Stinear won't be using finals as a motivation, believing it will only serve as a distraction.
"Earlier in the season we tied ourselves up in knots worrying about that stuff and losing four in a row," Stinear said.
"We learnt our lesson early. (Now it's about) enjoy playing together.
"We had kids' day today - it was almost (a case of) embrace being a kid and the love of the game and playing for each other, and let go of worrying about anything else.
"Anything else we worry about takes our eye off the ball."
Richmond slipped to a 6-3 record, with the loss to Melbourne putting their top-four hopes in jeopardy.
In an added blow, Richmond skipper Katie Brennan could be set for a stint on the sidelines after injuring her right ankle while being tackled in the second term, ruling her out for the rest of the match
Richmond's Ellie McKenzie provided the highlight of the opening term when she got the ball on the wing, took three bounces at full pace before nailing her goal on the run.
MCKENZIE, STOP IT 🤯— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) #AFLWDeesTigers pic.twitter.com/nEM787Cm85October 19, 2024
Not to be outdone, Bannan kicked two goals for the term, including a ripper with the outside of the right boot to give the Demons a six-point edge at the first break.
"She was brilliant today. She's been competing really well over the last month in particular," Stinear said.
"She's a real threat in the air and at ground level."
Bannan kicked her third goal early in the third term, with the Tigers restricted to just three behinds for the quarter.
Melbourne put the game to bed early in the last quarter with three quick goals, including Bannan's fourth courtesy of a holding-the-ball free kick.
Tensions threatened to boil over several times in the final quarter as the Demons ran away with the game.Â
First, a scrap between Melbourne's Kate Hore and Richmond's McKenzie resulted in other players rushing in.
That one fizzled out, but just minutes later Richmond's Emelia Yassir took exception to Eliza McNamara and slung her to the ground in brutal fashion.
Eilish Sheerin stood tall for Richmond with 31 disposals, 10 clearances, 586m gained and a goal, while Monique Conti (28 disposals, four clearances) also gathered plenty of the ball.
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