RICHMOND has mastered the art of winning with a small forward line, but this was a new test.
When Jack Riewoldt was concussed five minutes into the Tigers' clash with St Kilda on Saturday in a marking contest that saw Saints defender Jake Carlisle reported for striking, Richmond's brains trust had some thinking to do.
Their fleet-footed brigade of small forwards at Riewoldt's feet helped deliver the club a breakthrough premiership last year, but a new plan was needed and it required a new focal point: the 186cm Josh Caddy.
He took on the responsibility, booting a career-high six goals from 24 disposals and playing as a marking target inside-50 in Richmond's 28-point win.
It took Caddy's season goal tally to 23 from eight games as the Tigers again found new avenues in attack, Nick Vlastuin answering the coach's call to move forward in the second half, when he kicked three important goals (more than his 2017 season total).
The pair were vital in steering Richmond to its 15.14 (104) to 12.5 (77) victory.
That coaching creativity, combined with Caddy and Vlastuin's influence, was probably the difference in an otherwise even contest, particularly after the Tigers lost Riewoldt early and then Bachar Houli before half-time with a groin injury.
Those injuries squared things slightly, but the reigning champs stepped up when required – Trent Cotchin (32 disposals and a goal) proving a strong force in the midfield, Dustin Martin kicking two valuable goals and 200-gamer Shaun Grigg steady throughout.
St Kilda were strong in facets of the game – they had 74 more disposals, eight more tackles and drew even in clearances – but were ultimately outclassed.
Jade Gresham proved himself as St Kilda's leading young player with an outstanding bag of six goals, Seb Ross was excellent with 37 disposals, Jack Steven (36 disposals) provided plenty of run and Carlisle (27 disposals, 10 marks) overcame his early indiscretion, likely to see him suspended, to put in a dominant game.
The Tigers withstood the early loss of Riewoldt to lead by nine points at quarter-time, with Dan Butler booting two of Richmond's three majors for the term.
The Saints' effort was there but again their lack of polish stood out, as Richmond made them pay for their skill errors. Every forward foray the Saints made felt like the build up of plenty of work, compared to some of the Tigers' effortless runs.
St Kilda kept plugging away in the second term, but again will rue its lost opportunities, with Paddy McCartin missing a couple of shots at goal and the Saints falling 13 points behind despite registering more inside-50s for the half.
Caddy's ability to step up as Richmond's go-to man was important, and the Tigers were difficult to stop on the counter-attack, whisking the ball from one end of the ground to the other on several occasions.
The absence of the crucial premiership pair was going to bite at some point, and the Tigers felt the pinch in the third term.
Richmond would have gone 19 points up when young Tiger Jack Higgins had a shot ruled a behind after a goal review appeared to show the ball fully pass the goal line before being touched.
The Saints made the most of their fortune, with Jack Billings, Jack Lonie and then Gresham booting goals as they took the lead. Gresham then kicked another as they jumped to an 11-point advantage.
But Richmond responded with four of the next five goals, including a Martin special from 55 metres, to regain a 10-point lead by the final change. The Saints, it appeared, had done their dash.
And so it proved, as the gallant Tigers, reduced to two on the interchange for most of the game, kicked five goals to three in the final term.
RICHMOND 3.3 6.4 10.9 15.15 (105)
ST KILDA 2.0 4.3 9.5 12.5 (77)
GOALS
Richmond: Caddy 6, Butler 3, Vlastuin 3, Martin 2, Cotchin
St Kilda: Gresham 6, Membrey 2, Steven, Billings, Lonie, Newnes
BEST
Richmond: Caddy, Cotchin, Martin, Short, Butler, Grigg
St Kilda: Gresham, Steven, Ross, Webster, Carlisle, Geary
INJURIES
Richmond: Riewoldt (concussion), Houli (groin)
St Kilda: White (right thigh), Dunstan (right shoulder)
Reports: Jake Carlisle (St Kilda) reported for striking Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) in the first quarter
Umpires: Margetts, Harris, O'Gorman
Official crowd: 48,850 at the MCG
