Richmond has made it seven wins from its last nine starts after overcoming an improving West Coast 20.8 (128) to 13.15 (93) at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Daniel Rioli (28 disposals), Jayden Short (21) and Marlion Pickett (25) were strong contributors for Richmond, who leapfrogged Sydney and St Kilda into seventh spot on the AFL ladder on percentage.

Superstar Dustin Martin looked slick with 17 disposals, eight score involvements, four clearances and 359 metres gained before leaving the field during the third term with hamstring awareness.

Both sides were a man down when West Coast lost injury-plagued utility Elliot Yeo to a more serious hamstring issue at about the same stage of the match.

Richmond had more firepower in attack, sharing the scoring load and making the most of its chances.

Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals while Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Liam Baker and Pickett slotted two each.

It was a scrappy opening, plagued with a series of skill errors by foot from both sides.

Martin and Daniel Rioli were exceptions as their slick ball use helped the Tigers kick the final four goals of the first half to lead by 34 points at the main break.

They increased the advantage to as much as 39 points before the Eagles enjoyed a brief period of dominance after Martin and Yeo went off.

The visitors kicked 6.5 to 4.1 for the third quarter and an upset was on the cards when debutant Zane Trew calmly converted a free kick to cut the margin to 11 points.

But Richmond steadied through Liam Baker after Naitanui's tangle with Ivan Soldo off the ball resulted in Shannon Hurn's defensive mark being turned into a Richmond free kick close to goal.

The lowly Eagles got a lift out of Nic Naitanui's return from a knee injury, with Tim Kelly (40 disposals, nine clearances) and Luke Shuey (26, 11) busy at the ruck star's feet.

Naitanui was influential at stoppages, finishing with 19 disposals, 26 hit-outs and six clearances as the Eagles won the clearance battle 45-31.

Kelly capped a superb individual display with two goals and Jamie Cripps kicked three.

Eagles forward Jack Darling out-muscled Josh Gibcus to kick an early goal but was kept fairly quiet in his 250th game.

RICHMOND 4.2 11.4 15.5 20.8 (128)
WEST COAST 2.4 5.6 11.11 13.15 (93)

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Baker 2, Bolton 2, Edwards 2, Lynch 2, McIntosh 2, Pickett 2, Castagna, Gibcus, Martin, M.Rioli, D.Rioli
West Coast: Cripps 3, Kelly 2, Darling, Naitanui, Petruccelle, Rioli, Ryan, Trew, Waterman, West

BEST
Richmond: D.Rioli, Pickett, Baker, Broad, Short, Vlastuin
West Coast: Kelly, Naitanui, Cripps, Shuey, Barass, Redden

INJURIES
Richmond: Martin (hamstring awareness)
West Coast: Yeo (hamstring)

MEDICAL SUBS
Richmond: Kane Lambert, replaced Dustin Martin in the third quarter
West Coast: Sam Petrevski-Seton, replaced Elliot Yeo in the third quarter