Richmond has suffered a last-minute loss to Essendon at the MCG on Saturday night, the final scores reading 10.10 (70) to 10.11 (71).

The result puts the handbrake on what looked like a change of form for the Tigers after downing Geelong last round.

An entertaining and inspiring pre-game ceremony that featured players from both clubs performing together kicked off a high-pressure first half, with Richmond taking a five-point lead into the long break.

The Tigers extended the lead to two goals at three-quarter time but there was plenty of football to play.

The final term saw Richmond break out to a three-goal advantage yet Essendon kept coming, finally getting ahead with a goal from former Richmond VFL player Sam Durham with seven seconds on the clock.

Shai Bolton – who became the 100th Indigenous player to notch up 100 games on Saturday night – came to the fore with two consecutive goals in the third term, including a special soccer right on the boundary line amid a steady drizzle.

Tim Taranto's fine first Richmond season continued, Jack Ross had one of his best games for the year to date on the wing and Bolton and Dustin Martin did everything they could to drag the Tigers over the line.

Andrew McGrath was strong in defence and Jye Caldwell had his best game for the season, given extra midfield minutes due to the late withdrawal of Dylan Shiel.

ESSENDON 4.1 5.7 6.10 10.11 (71)
RICHMOND 3.5 6.6 8.10 10.10 (70)

GOALS
Essendon: Weideman 2, Durham 2, A. Davey, Snelling, Menzie, Langford, Stringer, Menzie
Richmond: Bolton 2, Mansell 2, Martin 2, Ryan, Taranto, Graham, Clarke

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Ridley, Redman, McGrath, Durham
Richmond: Taranto, Bolton, Martin, Ross, Rioli

INJURIES
Essendon: A.Davey (shoulder)
Richmond: Nil

LATE CHANGES:
Essendon: Dylan Shiel (injury), replaced in selected side by Will Snelling
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Massimo D'Ambrosio (replaced Andrew Phillips at three-quarter time)
Richmond: Judson Clarke (replaced Thomson Dow in the third quarter)

Crowd: 78,300 at the MCG