Richmond served up a massive scare to Melbourne on Monday night, but the Demons were able to overcome the challenge to post an 18-point win at the MCG.

Richmond came with a plan and executed perfectly in the opening quarter. The Tigers took an 18-point advantage into the second term, with Noah Cumberland's three first-quarter goals lighting the fuse for the Yellow and Black.

Without spearhead Tom Lynch in attack, the Tigers were careful not to bang the ball in long for Steven May and Jake Lever to cut off and intercept. Instead they went low, causing havoc in Melbourne's back half as Cumberland's speed caught them off guard.

Richmond was dangerous at ground level, swooping on loose balls and following up, with Rhyan Mansell's last-minute snap symbolic of a term where the Tigers' hunt had overwhelmed the Demons.

Richmond jumped to a 25-point lead midway through the second quarter on the back of Jack Riewoldt's pair of goals, but late goals to Bayley Fritsch and Ed Langdon cut the Demons' deficit back to 14 points at half-time.

It was a couple of Melbourne's new breed who helped get them across the line in the match, with Kade Chandler (three goals) and Jacob van Rooyen (three goals in the final term) helping the Demons kick nine goals to three in the second half in the 15.6 (96) to 11.12 (78) win.

The Tigers had themselves to blame late in the game, however, after they kicked six consecutive behinds either side of the three-quarter time break, all from gettable shots on goal.

Melbourne's midfield guns Clayton Oliver, Christian Petracca and Jack Viney were predictably key to the late surge, while Tim Taranto (33 disposals) and the returning Jayden Short got plenty of footy for the Tigers.

Short had missed the Tigers' previous three games with a calf injury (all of which were defeats) but he was back to some of his best against the Demons. The 27-year-old was terrific, particularly in the first three quarters, gathering 30 disposals and having a game-high 644 metres gained.

MELBOURNE 2.2 6.2 10.5 15.6 (96)
RICHMOND 5.2 8.4 10.7 11.12 (78)

GOALS
Melbourne: Chandler 3, van Rooyen 2, Fritsch, Jordon, Langdon, Neal-Bullen, Oliver, Petty, Pickett, Viney
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Cumberland 3, Hopper, Mansell, Ryan

BEST
Melbourne: Viney, Oliver, Petracca, Gawn, Lever, Sparrow
Richmond: Short, Riewoldt, Taranto, Martin, Hopper

INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Richmond: M.Rioli (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Melbourne: Bailey Laurie (replaced Trent Rivers in the fourth quarter)
Richmond: Hugo Ralphsmith (replaced Ben Miller in the fourth quarter)