RICHMOND is back to fifth spot on the ladder after a scrappy 31-point win over the Brisbane Lions at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Both teams were coming off their biggest defeats of the season – the Tigers having been thumped by St Kilda and the Lions smashed by Geelong last round – but Richmond was too strong, getting its double-chance hopes back on track.
The Tigers won 16.16 (112) to 12.9 (81), having led by 23 points at the last change.
Superstar Dustin Martin dominated the Lions in Sunday afternoon's win in a performance that could either make or end his Brownlow Medal hopes.
Martin is likely to have pocketed another three votes after collecting 40 possessions, kicking two goals and winning 14 clearances as the Tigers kicked away.
As the third quarter wound down he was baited by opponent Nick Robertson, who kneed him in the calf, and retaliated with some contact that might be looked at by the Match Review Panel.
It was the dramatic peak in a performance full of troughs for the Tigers, who hope to finish top four but have failed to perform at that standard in the past fortnight, failing to shake the Lions until late on Sunday.
They led from the opening minute until the final siren, but were only 11 points clear of the 18th-placed Lions halfway through the third quarter as a lack of discipline and killer-instinct took its toll.
When the shackles were released in the final term they kicked seven goals, but the Lions played the game out impressively with six of their own.
Martin was unstoppable in the third quarter, winning 15 possessions and five clearances in that term alone and kicking one goal to continue his magnificent season.
Key forward Jack Riewoldt booted four goals, while small forwards Jason Castagna, Dan Butler and Daniel Rioli combined for six goals.
Captain Trent Cotchin battled hard with 28 possessions (15 contested), while Anthony Miles was called on for his third game this season and impressed with 24 possessions.
The Lions were led by classy youngster Alex Witherden, who produced the best performance of his debut season to finish with 28 possessions and four inside 50s, using the ball with precision.
The Lions wouldn't have lost any fans in a plucky performance, making it hard for the Tigers to get any momentum through the game but lacking the polish to punish their more experienced opponents.
RICHMOND 4.4 5.8 9.13 16.16 (112)
BRISBANE LIONS 1.3 4.6 6.8 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Martin 2, Castagna 2, Edwards, Cotchin, Prestia, Rioli, B Ellis
Brisbane Lions: Keays 2, Schache 2, Hipwood 2, Cutler, Zorko, Bastinac, Mathieson, Walker, McCluggage
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Cotchin, Butler, Short, Miles
Brisbane Lions: Witherden, Andrews, Taylor, McStay, Rich
INJURIES
Richmond: Soldo (nose)
Brisbane Lions: Nil
Reports: Nick Robertson (Bris) for headbutting Trent Cotchin (Rich)
Umpires: Fisher, Deboy, Hosking
Official crowd: 28,188 at Etihad Stadium
