Richmond has entered the top eight for the first time this season, with a 26-point win against St Kilda in front of 47,188 fans at the MCG.
The Tigers notched their eighth win in-a-row for the first time since the last premiership season, in 1980.
They face top side Sydney in a virtual elimination final next Saturday, a game they must win to achieve back-to-back finals appearances.
The win against St Kilda was set up early, with Richmond kicking the first six goals of the game - the first three coming in outstanding fashion.
Jack Riewoldt opened his account with a brilliant snap from the boundary, set up by the milestone man Shane Edwards, then Ben Griffiths kicked a snap on the run, followed by a classic Brett Deledio run through the middle and goal from 50.
The Saints fought it out until the end, but the Tigers had all the answers in the latter parts of the match.
Riewoldt returned to his best form, kicking six goals from six marks inside 50, helped from some excellent service from the midfielders.
Richmond’s defenders won a lot of the ball, with Troy Chaplin (29 disposals, 15 marks), Bachar Houli (29 disposals) and Jake Batchelor (22 disposals) providing excellent run from defence.
Ricky Petterd continued his excellent run of form, collecting 23 disposals, 14 marks, five inside 50s and one goal.
Anthony Miles did the hard work inside, winning ten clearances to go with 25 disposals (12 contested).
Nick Vlastuin won the ball 15 times with seven clearances, while Cotchin was being chased by Maverick Weller all game, but still collected 22 disposals and four clearances.
RICHMOND 6.0 8.3 13.5 15.8 (98)
ST KILDA 2.2 4.7 5.9 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Deledio 2, Griffiths 2, Batchelor, Maric, Foley, Petterd, Ellis
St Kilda: White 3, Riewoldt 2, Shenton, Fisher, Armitage, Newnes, Murdoch
BEST
Richmond: Riewoldt, Miles, Houli, Deledio, Rance, Maric, Newman
St Kilda: Armitage, Riewoldt, Dempster, Steven, Montagna
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
St Kilda: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Ben Lennon replaced Chris Newman in the third quarter
St Kilda: Brodie Murdoch replaced Rhys Stanley at three-quarter time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Burgess, Mollison
Official crowd: 47,188 at the MCG
