Richmond has added Hawthorn to its list of top-four scalps so far in the 2015 season, with the Tigers toppling the Hawks by 18 points at the MCG.
 
In front of 66,305 fans, Richmond’s pressure and intensity, strong defence and midfield strength were the ingredients of a season-defining win.
 
The Tigers kept the Hawks to just seven goals, holding them goalless in two of the four quarters.
 
Richmond won the contested possession count by 21, with Anthony Miles (18), Trent Cotchin (14), Shaun Grigg (11) and Ivan Maric (10) leading the way.
 
Miles was a constant in the midfield, finishing with 30 disposals and seven clearances, while Brandon Ellis (27 possessions) and Martin (27).
 
Maric was brilliant in the ruck, winning 31 hitouts, collecting 14 disposals and taking seven marks.
 
Brett Deledio booted four goals from 19 disposals, and Bachar Houli took a game-high 10 marks and collected 23 disposals.
 
Richmond had plenty of the ball in the early stages of the match, and it led to a dominant first quarter.
 
While keeping the Hawks goalless, Deledio booted three goals, one from a set shot after a forward 50 tackle, and two on the run.
 
Martin started brightly with 10 disposals, and the Tigers’ tackling and pressure around the ground was impressive.
 
A Jack Riewoldt goal to start the second quarter extended the lead to 25 points, but Hawthorn hit back, booting four straight goals – including two to Jack Gunston – to hit the lead heading into time-on.
 
Kamdyn McIntosh halted the momentum with a clever snap, but the Hawks hit the lead with seconds remaining in the half, after Cyril Rioli was awarded a free kick inside 50.
 
Miles did his best to keep the Tigers in the contest by the main break, collecting 12 disposals (nine contested) and five inside 50s in the second term.
 
Richmond completed a second shut-out in the third quarter, keeping Hawthorn from kicking a goal, while booting three more of their own.
 
Ty Vickery snapped from long range six minutes into the term, after receiving a free kick in the Punt Road end pocket.
 
There were 17 minutes between that and the next goal, when Bachar Houli drifted forward and converted a set shot after being found by Martin.
 
Kane Lambert made it an 18-point advantage at three-quarter time when he ran into an open goal, profiting from a defensive turnover caused by Taylor Hunt.
 
Deledio kicked his fourth goal early in the last quarter – a classy running effort - to make the difference 25 points.
 
The Hawks hit back through back-to-back goals from Gunston and Puopolo, but Sam Lloyd iced the contest with a classy snap from the pocket heading into time-on.
 

HAWTHORN    0.3    5.6    5.8    7.11 (53)
RICHMOND     3.4    5.4    8.8    10.11 (71)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Gunston 3, Puopolo 2, Schoenmakers, Rioli
Richmond: Deledio 4, Riewoldt, McIntosh, Vickery, Houli, Lambert, Lloyd

BEST 
Hawthorn: Lewis, Mitchell, Birchall, Hodge, Burgoyne
Richmond: Miles, Deledio, Martin, Maric, Ellis, Cotchin

INJURIES 
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Hawthorn: David Hale replaced by Billy Hartung in the third quarter
Richmond: Ben Lennon replaced by Sam Lloyd in the fourth quarter 

Umpires: Dalgleish, Stevic, Chamberlain

Official crowd: 66,305 at the MCG