RICHMOND held off Melbourne for three quarters before running away in a ferocious contest 15.12 (102) to 8.8 (56) at the MCG on Tuesday night.
The Tigers led from late in the first quarter but couldn't break away from the hard-tackling Demons who closed the gap to six points just before the final change.
However, Richmond was up for the scrap, absorbed the best Melbourne had to offer, then asserted itself when it counted and kicked away to a 46-point win in front of 77,071 fans.
Tiger youngster Jack Higgins was exciting again after being recalled for just his second match, kicking three first-half goals.
The Tigers (4-1) also created some history. For the first time since 1995 they sit on top of the ladder during the home and away season. They won the flag last year despite never climbing higher than third.
Melbourne’s first quarter showed urgency – 28 tackles to 21 and 19 inside 50s to 13, yet for all that they managed just one goal and trailed by three points at quarter-time.
It was one of the Tigers’ flattest quarters for the year, but they clicked into gear in the second term, dominating clearances and stoppages and allowing the Demons just five inside 50s, kicking away to a 20-point lead at half-time.
Melbourne came hard again in the third quarter, led by Clayton Oliver who was superb with 13 touches for the term, but for all the industry the Demons still trailed by 19 points with a quarter to play. And it takes better teams than them to spot Richmond a margin that high with a quarter to go and win the game.
The Tigers got three goals from second-game small-forward Jack Higgins, who must be thinking that this League footy caper is a breeze. Kane Lambert, Jack Riewoldt, Jason Castagna, Sam Lloyd and Kamdyn McIntosh kicked two goals each.
Once again it was a relatively even performance from the Tigers. Yes, Brownlow medalist Dustin Martin was prolific after a quiet start with 26 possessions (15 contested), but Kane Lambert (29, 15), Shane Edwards (26,13) and Bachar Houli (26) were excellent.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick was pleased with how the Tigers worked their way through the match.
“It was a tough old game for a period of time. An arm wrestle, high pressure, high contest and I thought we were on the ropes early in the first and third quarter and I was really pleased with how our back six in particular stood up to that challenge,” he said.
“And then we started to grind away and got the game on our terms towards the end. It was a tough game.”
Apart from Oliver, who ended with 31 possessions, Jake Melksham was Melbourne’s best. He finished with a career-high four goals while playing deep forward on Alex Rance, while his former Essendon teammate Michael Hibberd provided drive across half-back despite an incident-filled night in which he twice had to be treated on the bench for a bloodied nose.
But once again, the Demons didn't have enough four-quarter contributors and they'll be disappointed to have faded badly again in the final term for the second week on the trot. They kicked the first goal of the last quarter to get within 13 points, but it then became a yellow-and-black procession as the Tigers banged on seven goals to officially make it a rout.
Medical Room: Richmond appeared to come through the physically intense game unscathed.
Next week: The Tigers are back at the MCG on Sunday, wearing the white shorts again as they play Collingwood.
GOALS
Melbourne: Melksham 4, Hogan 2, Garlett, Harmes
Richmond: Higgins 3, Lloyd 2, Castagna 2, McIntosh 2, Riewoldt 2, Lambert 2, Prestia, Cotchin
BEST
Melbourne: Oliver, Hogan, Melksham, Jones, Hibberd, Gawn
Richmond: Martin, Edwards, Houli, Lambert, Grigg, Higgins
INJURIES
Melbourne: Kent (left hamstring), Hibberd (nose)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Williamson
Official crowd: 77,071 at the MCG
