Richmond has bounced back emphatically from last week’s disappointing loss to Adelaide, thrashing Gold Coast by 83 points at the MCG.
The victory, its 12th of the season, lifted the team’s percentage to 114.5, and up to sixth on the AFL ladder with three games remaining.
The Tigers registered over 100 points for the first time since Round 7 against Collingwood, with 11 individual goalkickers hitting the scoreboard.
The tally of 22.6.138 was the Club’s highest for the year, and the final margin eclipsed the win over Brisbane by 79 points in Round 3.
Richmond’s midfield brigade was back to its best, winning the clearances by 13 and the contested possessions by 33, after its colours were lowered against the Crows a week earlier.
The Tigers also dominated on the outside, winning 91 more uncontested possessions, which led to a lopsided inside 50 count (62-40).
Ty Vickery booted four goals in an impressive performance, with another five Tigers – Sam Lloyd, Brett Deledio, Dustin Martin, Kane Lambert and Jack Riewoldt – kicking multiples.
Half of Richmond players collected over 20 disposals, with Brandon Ellis (29), Bachar Houli (29) and Martin (29 and six clearances) the most dominant.
In his 150th game, captain Trent Cotchin gathered 28 disposals, including an equal game-high 14 contested disposals, and won nine clearances.
The Tigers shot out of the blocks with six goals in the opening quarter, but the Suns kept in touch at half time by reducing the margin to 17 points.
A six-goal burst at the start of the third quarter blew the game wide open, and the Tigers didn’t let up, finishing with eight goals to one in the final term.
Vickery provided the icing on the cake with the final kick of the game, nailing a set shot from outside 50 which needed a score review to confirm, giving the Tiger Army extra reason to celebrate.
RICHMOND 6.1 8.2 14.5 22.6 (138)
GOLD COAST 2.0 5.3 7.3 8.7 (55)
GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 4, Lloyd 3, Deledio 3, Martin 3, Lambert 2, Riewoldt 2, Grigg, Newman, Maric, Thomas, Ellis
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Hall, Russell, Dixon, Garlett, Boston
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Lambert, Houli, Rance, Ellis, Maric, Vickery
Gold Coast: Hall, Lynch, Kolodjashnij, Richchitelli, May, Lonergan
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Gold Coast: Nicholls (knee), Dixon (ankle), Martin (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh replaced Anthony Miles in the fourth quarter
Gold Coast: Jarrod Garlett replaced Tom Nicholls at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stevic, Brown, Mollison
Official crowd: 38,508 at the MCG
