Former Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has turned back the clock in his 300th game to inspire the finals-hunting Tigers to a crucial 20-point win over St Kilda.

In the first half alone at the MCG, Cotchin had 19 disposals, eight contested possessions, three clearances, three inside 50s and booted two clutch goals that brought the house down and revived the Tigers after a slow start.

With former coach Damien Hardwick among those in the stands watching on, Cotchin finished with 29 disposals to help Richmond prevail 13.12 (90) to 11.4 (70) in teeming rain and leave them just two points outside the top eight.

"He played a game of football, didn't he?" interim coach Andrew McQualter said of, and to, Cotchin, who was sitting next to him, before cheekily adding a "what have you been doing all year?"

"Trent was huge. That first quarter, first half in particular, then some huge moments again late.

"It shows you the leader he has been for our football club for such a long period of time. He stood up again."

Tim Taranto (38 disposals, 10 tackles, six clearances and a goal) and Dustin Martin (34 touches, seven clearances) starred in the midfield while Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short were excellent.

St Kilda's Brad Crouch (33 touches) and Brad Hill (31) fought hard while former Tiger Dan Butler (three goals) provided a spark as the Saints spurned a chance to draw level with the top four on points.

Richmond's Noah Balta arguably won an entertaining duel with Max King.

Cotchin led the Tigers up the race but stopped at the top to high-five every teammate.

Last up was fellow stalwart Jack Riewoldt, who threw an arm around Cotchin as they ran out together to a rousing reception from the pro-Richmond crowd.

But initially, the Saints appeared poised to spoil the party.

St Kilda booted the first four goals of the game before Shai Bolton stopped the rot and Short launched a long bomb to get Richmond back within reach.

Just before quarter-time, with Richmond trailing by 15, Cotchin marked just inside 50 and lined up for goal.

The former captain used the maximum possible run-up, drove through the goal and sent the MCG into raptures.

Every Tiger on the field ran to Cotchin - and it started a run of five consecutive majors.

"That was very much on my limit with regards to the distance so I did think it would fall 10 metres short, but gave it everything I had," Cotchin told reporters.

"But they're the moments that are really special. The way that I've been supported, not just this week, throughout my career, from particularly my teammates has been really special.

"And that's the stuff that I'll cherish when it's all said and done - whenever that'll be."

Cotchin booted the first goal of the second term and the Tigers nudged out to an 18-point lead at half-time.

Young Richmond tall Samson Ryan was substituted out at half-time with an ankle concern.

In the third quarter, Vlastuin intercepted at will then snapped his first goal since 2020 to send the Tigers out to a game-high 25-point lead.

But Saints smalls Butler, Jack Higgins and Ryan Byrnes struck to cut the deficit to seven points at the final change.

The final quarter proved a genuine arm wrestle.

But with barely two minutes left, Taranto burst through a stoppage and booted a wonderful goal with the outside of his right boot, then Bolton added another to ice the game.

RICHMOND 6.4 10.7 11.10 13.12 (90)
ST KILDA 5.0 7.8 11.3 11.4 (70)

GOALS
Richmond: Bolton 3, Short 2, Miller 2, Cotchin 2, Vlastuin, McIntosh, Baker, Taranto
St Kilda: Butler 3, King 2, Higgins 2, Gresham, Caminiti, Byrnes, Battle

BEST
Richmond: Taranto, Cotchin, Vlastuin, Martin, Bolton, Balta, Short
St Kilda: Sinclair, Crouch, Butler, Hill, Wilkie, Marshall

INJURIES
Richmond: Ryan (ankle)
St Kilda: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Hugo Ralphsmith (replaced Samson Ryan at half-time)
St Kilda: Cooper Sharman (replaced Dougal Howard in the third quarter)

Crowd: 62,686 at the MCG