Richmond has withstood an unbelievable Adelaide fightback as the Tigers claimed their first win of the season in an epic see-sawing encounter on Saturday.

After trailing by as much as 45 points, the Crows flipped the script to close within one point in the last quarter.

But three goals in as many minutes to Rhyan Mansell, Trent Cotchin and second-gamer Samson Ryan ensured the Tigers left Adelaide Oval with the four premiership points, getting home by 32 points – 17.6 (108) to 10.16 (76).

Gun recruits Tim Taranto (28 disposals) and Jacob Hopper (23 touches) were both outstanding for the Tigers, showing why the ex-Greater Western Sydney duo were handed lucrative seven-year contracts.

Ryan and Tom Lynch were handfuls for the Crows defence, booting three goals each, but the Tigers shared the love with 12 individual goalkickers.

Crows ball magnet Rory Laird bounced back after a quiet opening round performance with a game-high 38 disposals, while youngsters Lachlan Sholl, Josh Rachele and Jake Soligo were instrumental in the turnaround.

Apart from Darcy Fogarty’s goal in the opening minute, it was all the Tigers in the first half.

They booted nine straight goals on their way to taking a stranglehold on the game, leading 11.3 (69) to 3.6 (24) at halftime.

Any of the 38,492 fans in attendance who left the ground would have been regretting it as the Crows launched a massive resurgence.

They completely dominated the third quarter, kicking five goals to one on the back of a 24-7 inside 50 count to bring the margin back to a manageable 14 points at three-quarter time.

Goals to Taylor Walker and Fogarty narrowed the gap to a solitary point, but that’s as close as the Crows would get.

The Tigers booted the final five goals of the game to win their first match of the 2023 season after last week’s draw against Carlton.

Tigers defender Nathan Broad is likely to be in trouble with the Match Review Committee after a sling tackle on Crows defender Patrick Parnell in the opening quarter that ruled Parnell out of the rest of the game.

ADELAIDE 1.3 3.6 8.14 10.16 (76)
RICHMOND 4.1 11.3 12.4 17.6 (108)

GOALS
Adelaide: Fogarty 3, Rachele 2, Rankine 2, Walker 2, Thilthorpe
Richmond: Ryan 3, Lynch 3, Riewoldt 2, Broad, Baker, Hopper, Graham, Short, Martin, Mansell, Cotchin, Bolton

BEST
Adelaide: Laird, Dawson, Sholl, Rachele, Soligo, Murray
Richmond: Taranto, Rioli, Prestia, Baker, Hopper, Balta

INJURIES
Adelaide: Parnell (head knock)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: Riley Thilthorpe (replaced Patrick Parnell in first quarter)
Richmond: Rhyan Mansell (replaced Dustin Martin in fourth quarter)

Crowd: 38,492 at Adelaide Oval