RICHMOND has snagged a double-chance for the first time since 2001, and will go into a qualifying final against Geelong in a fortnight full of confidence, after comfortably beating St Kilda by 41 points at the MCG.
Damien Hardwick's Tigers were insatiable early on Sunday in avenging their worst performance of the year to blitz a St Kilda line-up that began the match with a slim chance of making finals.
Round 23: Oh we're from Tigerland
A loss would have dropped Richmond to sixth, but the 19.8 (122) to 12.9 (81) triumph over the Saints at the MCG instead locked up third spot. A rematch with the Cats beckons in a qualifying final, back at the home of Australian football.
Retiring St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt completed his brilliant 336-game career with 15 possessions and one goal in a quiet performance.
Martin ended what will almost certainly be a Brownlow Medal-winning season with 36 disposals (14 contested) and seven inside-50s in his latest best-on-ground display.
The superstar's two most important touches came inside the first five minutes of the final term. He firstly slotted a sparkling checkside goal, then moments later burst around opponents to slip a great pass to Jacob Townsend for another.
Townsend finished with five majors, after kicking six on his season debut a week earlier.
The yellow and black army, who made up the majority of the 69,104 crowd, rose to their feet to applaud Martin as he euphorically came to the bench.
St Kilda's four-goal-to-one third quarter had cut the Tigers' lead to 25 points at the last break, after it had reached 50, before Martin's intervention put paid to the threat.
Round 23: Dusty with the inside out bender
Richmond's pressure was immense in the opening stages, repeatedly forcing the rattled Saints sideways and backwards. It mattered little that St Kilda had more disposals, including the contested variety.
The Tigers pounced at every opportunity in the first half. They dominated 44-29 in tackles, including David Astbury's monstrous effort on Jade Gresham that helped spear the ball forward for Trent Cotchin to goal.
Martin and Shaun Grigg were a class above and drove Richmond into attack at will, while surprise packet Townsend booted three first-half majors. Brandon Ellis and Bachar Houli also performed pivotal roles off half-back.
To the Saints' credit, they rallied superbly in the third term via some of their prized youth. Jack Steele - who temporarily quelled Martin - Jack Billings, Jack Sinclair and Blake Acres were all prominent.
They would have surged closer if not for Jack Lonie failing to make the distance from 30 metres, before Koby Stevens and Josh Bruce missed gettable set shots in the ensuing minutes.
MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: Daniel Rioli left the game briefly in the second quarter after a knock to the ribs, but played the match out.
St Kilda: The Saints got only 10 minutes out of skipper Jarryn Geary, who failed a concussion test after a collision with Tiger Jack Riewoldt. There was also a concern in the third quarter when Luke Dunstan came off with a right hamstring complaint.
RICHMOND 4.1 11.5 12.7 19.8 (122)
ST KILDA 1.2 4.3 9.9 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Richmond: Townsend 5, Riewoldt 3, Grigg 3, Prestia 2, Martin 2, Butler 2, Graham, Cotchin
St Kilda: Gresham 5, Billings 2, Membrey 2, Bruce, Riewoldt, Longer
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Prestia, Cotchin, Townsend, Vlastuin, Nankervis, Houli
St Kilda: Steele, Gresham, Billings, Sinclair, Ross, Dunstan
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
St Kilda: Geary (concussion)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Nicholls, Hosking
Official crowd: 69,104 at the MCG
