RICHMOND has overcome a last-quarter St Kilda surge to score a drought-breaking eight-point win in a finals-like contest at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
Over 49,000 people watched the Tigers squander a 20-point fourth-quarter lead before recovering to squeeze home 18.13 (121) to 16.17 (113).
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It was Richmond's first victory over St Kilda for more than nine years, snapping a 14-game run against the Saints. Richmond's last win over the Saints came in round four of 2003, a span of 3329 days.
In his 100th career game, Jack Riewoldt booted eight goals in a best-on-ground performance for the winners, including three in a pulsating final quarter that saw the lead change four times.
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Riewoldt now has 31 goals for the season, overtaking Geelong's Tom Hawkins at the front of the Coleman Medal race.
Star midfielders Brett Deledio (29 disposals), Trent Cotchin (28) and Dustin Martin (26) were prolific for the Tigers, and livewire Robin Nahas produced a superb eight-possession, two-goal third quarter that helped extend a two-point half-time lead to an equal game-high 20 points midway through that term.
Saints captain Nick Riewoldt kicked three goals for the losers, taking the family tally for the night to 11 after the cousins squared off in the pre-game coin toss.
First-year small forward Ahmed Saad also booted three goals for St Kilda.
David Armitage was a solid four-quarter contributor, gathering 22 possessions and booting two goals.
Brendon Goddard picked up a team-high 26 touches in a typically creative display across half-back.
Richmond looked home when it booted the opening two goals of the final quarter to take a 20-point lead at the seven-minute mark, but the Saints answered with the next four to snatch the advantage.
Enter Jack Riewoldt.
Goalless since half-time, he kicked the next two for Richmond and, after Brandon Ellis chipped in with one of his own, the full forward fittingly booted the sealing goal with only minutes remaining.
"You love playing for this footy club for moments like that," Riewoldt said post-match.
"There were so many people that came to the game tonight that bleed yellow and black, that are passionate supporters, and to win a game on the big stage, Friday night footy, with a lot of people watching, is important for this group and the way we're going to develop in our maturity.
"We're very proud of the way we played."
St Kilda coach Scott Watters said the free-flowing nature of the match suited the Tigers.
"Defensively we would have liked to probably force the game into stoppage more than we did," he said.
"It was a game of circle work which probably played into their hands more than ours."
Both sides now sit at 5-5 for the season.
The crowd of 49,337 fell just short of the record for a match between the two teams at Etihad Stadium of 49,580, set in round five, 2005.
It was the largest AFL crowd at the venue so far this season, befitting of the high-quality contest.
RICHMOND 3.7 9.8 12.11 18.13 (121)
ST KILDA 3.4 9.6 10.14 16.17 (113)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 8, Edwards 2, Nahas 2, Deledio, Tuck, I. Maric, Martin, Vickery, Ellis
St Kilda: Saad 3, Riewoldt 3, Armitage 2, Milera 2, Gram 2, Goddard, Dal Santo, Koschitzke, Milne
BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Deledio, Nahas, I. Maric, Cotchin, Grigg, Newman, Tuck
St Kilda: Armitage, Saad, Gram, Riewoldt, Goddard, Montagna
INJURIES
Richmond: Foley (bruised heel)
St Kilda: Cripps (hamstring)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Addam Maric replaced Nathan Foley in the fourth quarter
St Kilda: Arryn Siposs replaced Jamie Cripps in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Hay, Meredith
Official crowd: 49,337 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.
