This was the Richmond we all remembered.
Winless since the game's restart almost a month ago, the reigning premiers re-found their rhythm on Sunday. A 27-point victory over Melbourne was just the tonic for the Tigers faithful.
The 12.7 (79) to 8.4 (52) win under cloudy skies at the MCG was typical of the Tigers of old. Not necessarily easy on the eye, but gritty, tough and mightily effective.
There were no outstanding individual performers, but rather the normal collection of solid contributors as Richmond kicked five consecutive goals on either side of half-time to pull away from Melbourne and re-establish itself as a legitimate force once more.
Who was the toughest competitor in the arena this afternoon? Vote on your Gladiator of the Match to win a 2020 team-signed guernsey and VIP match day experience in 2021, thanks to Jeep!
The only concern for the Tigers, albeit a series of significant ones, was what appeared to be a number of injury blows sustained by key players after half-time.
Star midfielder Dion Prestia was helped from the field with what looked to be a nasty ankle injury in the game's dying stages, while captain Trent Cotchin (hamstring) and ruckman Toby Nankervis (ankle) had already been scratched from proceedings earlier in the match.
There could be no fingers pointed at Melbourne's ever-improving midfield for the disappointing patches that spoiled Sunday afternoon for Demon fans.
Max Gawn (22 disposals, 33 hitouts) was the dominant ruckman on the ground, while key duo Christian Petracca (27 disposals, seven score involvements) and Clayton Oliver (26 disposals, eight clearances) were again impressive out of the middle.
Welcome to the '100 Club' Kane
At age 23, Kane Lambert probably couldn't have imagined an AFL career that would include two flags, consecutive top-three finishes in Richmond's best and fairest and the celebration of a 100-game milestone at the MCG to boot. But when he snapped around the corner to kick his first of the afternoon on Sunday, then produced almost a carbon copy for his second later in the match, before putting the icing on the cake with a third in the dying stages – immediately mobbed by his delighted teammates each time – it was the perfect way to cap the occasion. Lambert enjoyed another stunning performance to celebrate a typically understated career, winning 27 disposals, five clearances and kicking three goals against Melbourne. On this occasion, as they so often do not with Lambert, the stats genuinely reflected his importance within this successful Tigers side. Not bad for a player who spent his first six seasons outside of the junior system jumping between VFL teams.
MELBOURNE 3.1 3.2 5.2 8.4 (52)
RICHMOND 3.2 7.3 9.7 12.7 (79)
GOALS
Melbourne: Hannan 3, Melksham 2, Fritsch 2, McDonald
Richmond: Lynch 3, Lambert 3, Higgins, Rioli, Nankervis, Riewoldt, Castagna, Martin
BEST
Melbourne: Gawn, Oliver, Petracca, Langdon, May, Hibberd
Richmond: Lambert, Prestia, Cotchin, Caddy, Martin, Castagna
INJURIES
Melbourne: Nil
Richmond: Nankervis (ankle), Prestia (ankle), Cotchin (hamstring)
