THE TIGERS challenged but could not hold West Coast for the entire game, eventually going down by 57 points at Patersons Stadium on Sunday.
 
But the Eagles took their time to completely shake Richmond, who fought back from a 45-point deficit in the third quarter to draw within 27 points early in the final term.

But the visitors' ascendency was short-lived, with West Coast kicking five of the last six goals of the game to win 22.15 (147) to 14.6 (90).

It was a significant day for West Coast which was celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The form of ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfielder Daniel Kerr, both returning from lay-offs, would also be a reason for the club to celebrate.

Kerr, who had missed three games with soreness resulting from his hamstring surgery last year, had 34 possessions—including 19 in a brilliant first half to help set up a 34-point lead.

Naitanui was also instrumental in setting up what was effectively the match-winning lead, kicking two goals on the verge of the main break to cap a half full of individual highlights.

Forward Mark Nicoski provided the icing on the cake, booting a career-best six goals to make up for the absence of injured spearhead Josh Kennedy.

The Tigers, who have now lost eight of their past nine matches, folded in the last quarter after entering the final break with a glimmer of hope. They haven't won since round 13 against the Brisbane Lions.

Jack Riewoldt was well-beaten by West Coast skipper Darren Glass in the first half, but he ignited his side late in the third quarter with two quick goals and finished with four for the day.  

Brett Deledio (31 possessions and a goal), Dustin Martin (23 and nine clearances) and Shane Tuck (29 and six) were the team's most prolific midfielders.

THE NEXT FOUR
Richmond: The Tigers next four could bring about some wins to give them a better win-loss record than 2010. It begins next Sunday against Sydney (MCG), followed by Melbourne (MCG), Adelaide (AAMI) and North Melbourne (Etihad).
 
DREAM TEAM HIGHLIGHTS
Richmond: Brett Deledio ($341,400) showed the way in Dream Team scorers for the Tigers with 115 points. Jack Riewoldt ($252,800) had 94 and Shane Tuck ($283,600) 92.
 
QUARTER BY QUARTER
First quarter
Things began ominously for Richmond when West Coast got the game's opening goal within a minute through Jack Darling, but two to Brad Miller and one to Mitch Morton ensured the Tigers stayed in touch.
Even though the Eagles did sneak out by 14 points, a quick snap by Tyrone Vickery had the Tigers with seven at the first change.

West Coast by seven points.
 
Second quarter
West Coast threatened to blow Richmond away in the second term with Nic Naitanui coming to life, kicking two goals from eight possessions and taking four marks.

West Coast by 34 points.
 
Third quarter
The game seemed destined for a rout, especially when Ebert and Nicoski continued their big days and had eight goals between them.
 
On three separate occasions, West Coast led by 45 points but Richmond would not go away and, with Jack Riewoldt making up for a quiet first half (he had three for the term, including one after the three quarter-time siren), the Tigers were still a chance.

West Coast by 27 points.wn at the last change.
 
Fourth quarter
The first goal of the last term was always going to be crucial and it came to West Coast courtesy of Shannon Hurn at the eight-minute mark to put the home side back on top by 36 points.
 
Nicoski then booted his fifth for the first time in his career for the Eagles, Mark LeCras added his first soon after and then Nicoski booted his sixth to kick the 25th year celebrations into overdrive.


West Coast                       5.2          11.6        17.8        22.15     (147)
Richmond                         4.1          6.2          13.5       14.6        (90)
 
GOALS
West Coast: Nicoski 6, Darling 4, Ebert 4, Naitanui 2, Lynch, Cox, Kerr, LeCras, Hurn, Shuey
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Vickery 2, Miller 2, Morton, Nahas, King, Tuck, Deledio, Houli
 
BEST
West Coast: Kerr, Naitanui, Nicoski, Shuey, Gaff, Ebert
Richmond: Martin, Deledio, Tuck, Houli, Foley, Thursfield,
 
INJURIES
West Coast: Matt Rosa (knee)
Richmond: Daniel Jackson (leg)
 
SUBSTITUTIONS
West Coast: Matt Rosa replaced by Chris Masten in the third quarter
Richmond: Daniel Jackson replaced by Reece Conca in the third quarter
 
Reports: Nil
 
Umpires: Farmer, Stewart, Dalgleish
 
Official crowd: 38,106 at Patersons Stadium

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL