Stepping outside of yourself; caring for your teammate next to you and a willingness to be there for one another was the fuel that drove Richmond VFL in their clash with Williamstown.

The two teams have played out some classic encounters in recent history, and their Round 18 contest had a rough and tumble vibe from the get-go.

The Tigers ground their way to an impressive 55-point victory, bursting with vigour and verve with touches of class sprinkled throughout.

Richmond secured its ninth win of the season as they held Williamstown to just two goals, the final score reading 10.14 (74) to 2.7 (19).

Samson Ryan booted a game-high three goals, leading his side with strength and skill.

A sodden Punt Road Oval greeted Richmond and Williamstown, with pools of water scattered along the wings making for tricky, soaking conditions.

The slippery Sherrin didn’t bother Richmond big man Ryan, with the budding ruckman jagging the opening two goals of the game.

Ryan’s initial goal came after a strong contested mark in the right forward pocket. His second was pure class, with a slick crumb inside 50, he swung immediately on to his left and snapped truly.

Josh Gibcus suited up in the Yellow and Black at VFL level for the first time in his career, and provided aerial prowess behind the ball.

He nearly laid claim to mark of the year, hovering over a pack on the Punt Road wing in the second term and wowing the crowd in attendance.

The Tigers' willingness to be manic at the ball and the man allowed them to play the game on their terms for the majority of the first half.

Sydney Stack’s return was a welcome one, with the steely forward clean. Rhyan Mansell exuded the same qualities as Stack but in the back-half, teaming well with Gibcus and Tylar Young in providing rigidity backward of centre, stopping any Seagull that came into their path.

Jason Castagna had stints up forward and through the midfield, snapping the opening goal of the second term, following a slick assist by Ryan.

Maurice Rioli Jnr played a ferocious ten-minute cameo as the medical sub at Marvel Stadium on Friday night, and brought that same attitude to the ensuing contest against Williamstown.

He was constantly buzzing around forward-50, which led to Richmond’s fourth goal and his first.

The Tiger dynamo bobbed up early in the third quarter, snapping his second goal and pushing Richmond’s lead out to 35 points.

There was an injection of niggle and spice soon after, as Williamstown slotted its opening goal of the game midway through the quarter.

The Tigers’ young brigade didn’t allow its mindset to be jolted, slamming through three goals to end the quarter 47 points ahead.

Skipper Lachlan Street followed on from his strong showing last week as he clutched onto a diving chest mark 35 metres out from the Brunton Avenue goal.

Street converted which initiated a small flurry of goals.

Riley Collier-Dawkins was on the bottom of most packs throughout the day, but showed poise to find Judson Clarke free inside 50, with Clarke converting.

Ryan rose to prominence once again, splitting the pack and marking on his chest within close range to goal.

The towering Tiger bagged his third major and Richmond motored into the final change eight goals clear of the Seagulls.

The final term had patches of chaos, as Williamstown kept trying to rattle the Tigers.

The conditions and state of the game suited the likes of Jake Aarts and Rhyan Mansell, who kept the ball going Richmond’s way.

Tom Brown showcased his strengths in the air and with ball-in-hand.

Bailey Henderson found himself in space late in the final term, snapping the first goal of the term late in time on.

Then Aarts capped off the win with a classy set-shot goal a stroke before the final siren.

Richmond is building momentum heading into the pointy end of the season, and a crucial game against Brisbane awaits next Sunday morning at the Swinburne Centre.

RICH 2.4 4.8 8.11 10.14 (74)

WILL 0.2 0.3 1.6 2.7 (19)

Goal Kickers:

Richmond: Ryan (3), Rioli Jnr (2), Aarts, Castagna, Clarke, Henderson, Street