Dual Richmond premiership coach Damien Hardwick sought to ease the burden on the Tigers' under-pressure AFLW captain Katie Brennan during the week, but her winless expansion side's struggles continued on Sunday when they were thrashed by North Melbourne at Ikon Park.

Brennan, Monique Conti and Sabrina Frederick were the three marquee signings for Richmond ahead of their entry to the competition, with Frederick declaring on the eve of the season that the Tigers were not there to make up the numbers. However, after three consecutive defeats to start the season, including Sunday's 56-point drubbing by the Kangaroos, the team's finals aspirations are quickly slipping away.

Brennan had a classy running goal and 14 possessions in her side's loss to premiership fancy North as coach Tom Hunter again moved her between key forward and midfield roles.

But her form and her actions on the field, including testing out the injured shoulder of a Gold Coast opponent, have been criticised.