Sydney staged a stirring comeback and held one off, fighting back from a 33-point deficit and then withstanding a late Richmond surge to win by six points on Friday night.

The Tigers started strong, but the Swans rallied late, booting six final-term goals, which was ultimately enough to outlast Richmond in the 16.10 (106) to 15.10 (100) contest.

After an even start, the Tigers kicked seven goals in a row to build a 32-point lead halfway through the second quarter, before the Swans managed to turn the momentum back in their favour.

Richmond took all of 16 seconds to kick things back into gear at the start of the third via a Jayden Short bomb, but Sydney subsequently took control around the ground and spread the field to bypass Richmond's spare in defence.

The Swans came back with a bang in the third term, booting four goals in a row to pare the margin back to just one goal at the final change.

A Richmond goal started the final term in their favour, but the Swans didn’t say die, piling on the goals to snatch the lead back via Lance Franklin's fifth goal with 11 minutes left on the clock.

It didn’t stop there, with the Swans booting an extra two goals for good measure before defender Josh Gibcus – who had been thrown forward in a last-gasp attempt to create something for Richmond – goalled with three minutes left on the clock.

The Swans' lead was enough to be six points ahead at the final siren, but the very tight game wasn't over yet.

In a chaotic finish to the match, Chad Warner booted the ball into the crowd on the final siren after Dion Prestia had been paid a free kick – which is normally a 50m penalty – but the umpire deemed the Swan hadn't heard the whistle amid the crowd and siren.

Prestia then had a shot from 65m in the hope of tying the match, which fell well short.

Liam Baker was at his bustling, frenetic best in defence with a couple of notable smothers, while Trent Cotchin and Prestia were busy in the middle.

SYDNEY 3.4 6.7 10.10 16.10 (106)
RICHMOND 5.0 11.2 12.4 15.10 (100)

GOALS
Sydney: Franklin 5, Reid 3, Hayward 2, Parker, Campbell, Rowbottom, Papley, Heeney
Richmond: Ralphsmith 2, Edwards 2, Short 2, Graham 2, Martin, D.Rioli, Riewoldt, M.Rioli, Bolton, Prestia, Gibcus

BEST
Sydney: Franklin, Warner, Parker, Rowbottom, Ladhams
Richmond: Baker, Prestia, Cotchin, Short, Graham

INJURIES
Sydney: Nil
Richmond: Nil

LATE CHANGES
Sydney: Nick Blakey (illness) replaced in selected side by Colin O'Riordan
Richmond: Marlion Pickett (illness) replaced in selected side by Hugo Ralphsmith

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney: Robbie Fox (unused)
Richmond: Noah Cumberland (unused)