Bleary eyed Richmond faithful, fresh from consuming the Northern hemisphere sporting smorgasbord, made their way to Punt Road Oval for a morning clash between the Tigers and Box Hill.

In a high-octane, end-to-end game with not many stoppages, it was Box Hill that snuck its nose past the winning post by three points, the final score reading, 12.12 (84) to 12.9 (81).

Noah Cumberland gave the attending Tiger Army a reason to cheer with a productive start in attack.

He had the hot hand early, nailing the opening goal of the game from a tricky spot, then drilling his second from beyond the arc.

The dynamic and enigmatic forward starred with six majors, showcasing his potency and power in the air and at ground level.

Whilst the goals showcased his talent, Cumberland’s altruistic acts to bring his teammates into the game would have warmed the hearts of the coaching hierarchy and his piers.

Both sides looked to move the ball at speed in transition, which invited excitement and anxiety as the ball pinged between the arcs.

One play epitomized the trend of the game, as Mohammed Yassine tucked the ball under the arm, burnt off a chasing Hawk and placed the ball expertly to Kaelan Bradtke.

Bradtke’s set-shot stayed the left side of the right post, extending Richmond’s lead beyond two goals.

Cumberland’s first quarter went from good to great, as his quickfire snap sailed through, his third, in an electric start to the game.

Box Hill hit back late, as Richmond held a nine-point lead at the first change.

The Tigers looked sharp early in the second term, as Tyler Sonsie, Angus Hicks, Maurice Rioli and Hugo Ralphsmith propelled the ball forward with speed and skill.

Bigoa Nyuon slotted Richmond’s fifth major, holding his position deep in attack and judging the flight of the ball superbly.

The Hawks hit back with back-to-back goals, cutting the margin to five points.

Richmond had a chance to extend its lead further as Austin Johnson plucked at forward-half intercept, his set shot from the paint of 50 just drifting right of the goal post.

Jacob Koschitzke saluted as soon as the ball left his boot, levelling up the scores minutes before halftime.

Koschitzke made it four-on-the-bounce for the Hawks, sliding through back-to-back goals, handing his side the lead for the first time of the morning.

Box Hill clinched a seven-point lead with a four-goal-to-one second quarter.

The Tigers owned the territory early in the third quarter, with Cumberland capitalizing with his fourth major on the back of fingertip defence from skipper, Lachlan Street.

The game turned into a shootout between Cumberland and Koschitzke, as the Hawk eased through his third, handing Box Hill back the lead.

Hicks set-up Cumberland’s fifth, surging in from the fat-side wing to spoil a squaring ball, igniting the Tigers down the outer wing, with Bradtke finding Cumberland on the lead.

The dynamic forward’s fifth was near identical to his first, sliding through a set-shot from the Richmond Station pocket.

Box Hill once again regained the lead with back-to-back goals as Sam Butler and Koschitzke showed their class inside 50.

The Hawks pushed their lead to three goals before Cumberland swooped on a loose ball, swung onto his left boot, and pierced the ball onto the chest of Judson Clarke.

Clarke steeled himself and launched the ball over the goal umpire’s hat, cutting the margin to two goals and celebrated with customary energy and exuberance.

The Hawks kicked the opening goal of the last quarter, however Cumberland’s fingertip smother led to the Tigers’ ninth major with Nyuon marking on the goal line and handing it to Steely Green.

Box Hill struck back swiftly before the man of the moment, Cumberland swooped onto a centre clearance from Mykelti Lefau and snapped his sixth goal.

Tom Brindley’s acute set-shot tightened the margin and Sonsie cooly brought the game within a straight kick.

Richmond fought, scrapped and clawed to the line, ultimately falling just short.

RICH   4.2       5.6       8.8       12.9 (81)

BOX    2.5       6.7       10.9     12.12 (84)

Goal Kickers:

Richmond: Cumberland (6), Sonsie, Nyuon, Green, Clarke, Brindley, Bradtke

Best Players: Cumberland, Clarke, Dow, Sonsie, Rioli, Trezise