A DOMINANT third-quarter burst from Richmond has seen them beat North Melbourne 14.17 (101) to 9.12 (66) at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
The six-goal to one term saw the Tigers break clear after a close first half, but they could have been even further ahead after wasting some very gettable opportunities.
As per usual, Dustin Martin racked up possessions but Richmond supporters would be pleased with the increased output from Dion Prestia, as well fast and confident play across the board.
Richmond (7-4) beat North (4-7) for just the second time in nine meetings across six years and climbed into the top four.
Martin (38 possessions, two goals) was a class above a turnover-strewn contest that demanded someone grab it by the scruff of the neck. He was ever-present, but the Tigers split the game open in a chaotic seven-minute period right after half-time.
"It was a pretty impressive game," Hardwick said of Martin.
"I thought Trent, our captain, was also outstanding. He gets 70-odd pressure points and 11 tackles and his physicality in and around the contest (was superb).
"His possession gains at crucial stages were good and Dustin's just had a wonderful season thus far. We know those guys are really quality players. We expect them to play well in big games and they did tonight."
Fifty-metre penalties against North defenders Scott Thompson then Robbie Tarrant delivered goals to Jack Riewoldt and Shaun Grigg that propelled Richmond 10 points in front after a half-time deficit.
It was a continuation of the Kangaroos shooting themselves in the foot, after the Tigers had 14 scoring shots – admittedly for only five goals – off their rival's first-half turnovers.
Panic had set in by the time Riewoldt, who was involved in both earlier third-quarter goals, nabbed Tarrant in a tackle and slotted his second major.
All that was missing was Martin making a scoreboard impression. Another North giveback – this time off Todd Goldstein's boot – saw the Tigers rush the ball forward to Martin, who burned off Luke McDonald and thumped through a 50m goal.
The difference would have been more if Martin's teammates had converted two of his savvy passes, including an over-the-shoulder centring ball while hugging the boundary. The follow-up act soon after was predictable: a close-range Martin snap for maximum points.
Dion Prestia (35), Trent Cotchin (32), Bachar Houli (31) and Brandon Ellis (30) also won huge numbers, while Jamie Macmillan (26), Sam Gibson (25) and Dumont (24) were the Roos' major ball-winners.
NORTH MELBOURNE 2.4 7.6 8.9 9.12 (66)
RICHMOND 3.4 6.10 12.13 14.17 (101)
GOALS
North Melbourne: Wood 2, Atley 2, Brown, Waite, Higgins, Gibson, Hansen
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Martin 2, Butler 2, Lambert 2, Castagna, Cotchin, Edwards, Ellis, Grigg, Rioli
BEST
North Melbourne: Gibson, Dumont, Macmillan, Tarrant, Hrovat
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Prestia, Rance, Houli, Lambert, Ellis, Cotchin
INJURIES
North Melbourne: Garner (leg)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Hosking, Schmitt
Official crowd: 36,100 at Etihad Stadium
