A GOAL after the final siren to spearhead Jack Riewoldt has given Richmond a stunning one-point pre-season competition victory over Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium in Launceston on Saturday.
The Tigers' less than inspiring recent record in close matches looked like rearing its head again when Jarryd Roughead booted his third goal of the final term to put the Hawks in front with only minutes remaining.
But Riewoldt was ice cool in slotting a set shot from 35 metres out on a 45-degree angle to seal the 0.13.7 (85) to 0.13.6 (84) win.
The Coleman medallist finished with three goals to be his team's leading scorer along with former skipper Chris Newman, who kicked two of his three goals in the back-and-forth final term.
Roughead kicked five for the Hawks, but their loss was further soured by the loss of Matt Suckling to a right knee injury.
Richmond took a much stronger team on paper into the clash, and its seasoned stars stood out.
Along with Riewoldt and Newman, midfielders Trent Cotchin and Brett Deledio were among the Tigers' best, both finding plenty of the football.
Hawthorn remains without a win in the pre-season competition, but there were some positives.
Without several senior stars including Lance Franklin, Brad Sewell, Cyril Rioli and Luke Hodge, a number of borderline players strongly pressed their round one claims.
Chief among them was wingman Bradley Hill, who ran hard from start to finish, while Jonathan Simpkin, Jed Anderson, Sam Grimley and Matt Spangher were all prominent in stages.
Star midfielder Sam Mitchell was the best of the senior Hawks, with Shaun Burgoyne and Grant Birchall also playing well in their first hit-outs of the year.
HAWTHORN 0.4.1 0.5.3 0.9.5 0.13.6 (84)
RICHMOND 0.4.1 0.8.4 0.9.7 0.13.7 (85)
SUPERGOALS
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nil
GOALS
Hawthorn: Roughead 5, Burgoyne 2, Spangher 2, Savage, Anderson, Wanganeen, Grimley
Richmond: Newman 3, Riewoldt 3, King 2, Deledio 2, Vickery, Grigg, Houli
BEST
Hawthorn: Hill, Mitchell, Roughead, Simpkin, Burgoyne, Grimley
Richmond: Cotchin, King, Newman, White, Riewoldt, Deledio
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Suckling (right knee)
Richmond: Newman (corked left thigh)
Reports: Nil
