RICHMOND has gone down to Hawthorn by 42 points after being overwhelmed in the second half at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Tigers trailed by just 14 points at half time, but couldn't keep up with the Hawks' 12-goal run after the main break to lose 20.15 (135) to 14.9 (93).

The result keeps the Hawks' remote finals chances alive, and leaves the Tigers with three straight losses ahead of their round 22 trip to Perth to face West Coast.

The return of Graham Polak, who played his first game after a near-fatal collision with a tram last year, was a long-awaited highlight. 

Wearing a helmet, Polak started the match in the forward line opposed to Stephen Gilham but spent time at both ends of the ground.

While he amassed only six touches, he repeatedly showed a willingness to put his body on the line.

Brett Deledio was terrific with 36 touches and two goals, while Nathan Brown was prolific with 25. Troy Simmonds, in his first game since he was omitted by Jade Rawlings after round 11, was the best big man afield with 19 touches and 22 hit-outs. 

Richmond was restricted after being hit hard by injuries – the most serious to Will Thursfield.

The defender left the field in the first quarter with a shoulder injury following a collision with Liam Shiels.

He spent the rest of the game on the bench with his right arm in a sling. He was joined by Ben Cousins for the fourth term after the Brownlow medallist was concussed in a collision with Buddy Franklin.

Chris Newman and Daniel Jackson also picked up injuries and were on the pine when the final siren rang.

It was a slow-starting game with both sides failing to make an impression on the scoreboard early on.

The Hawks had more of the play but the Tigers didn't make life easy for them. Every time Alastair Clarkson's men made a charge, the Tigers were able to halt their momentum.

After an even first term, Franklin's third goal at the 24-minute mark put Hawthorn 27 points in front in the second.

Late goals to Brown and Richard Tambling revived Tiger hopes at the main change.

Richmond again got the first goal of the term when play restarted, with Jack Riewoldt converting after an impressive run from Luke McGuane.

The good work was undone when the next two went Hawthorn's way before Riewoldt kicked his third, but some undisciplined play at the 22-minute mark cost the Tigers dearly.

Cousins was collected by Franklin in the attacking arc, with the ball spilling free for Beau Dowler to collect and direct through for a goal. McGuane then remonstrated for the action by making contact to Osborne's stomach, which gifted the Hawk a free shot.

The double-hit blew the margin to 28 points, and virtually killed the game as a contest.

After the Hawks kicked the opening goal of the fourth through Osborne, the Tigers got a run on with two goals to Shane Tuck and another to Morton to move within 19 points.

But the Hawks kicked the next three, which was enough to end to the Tigers' late charge.

Richmond    2.2    7.3    9.6     14.9 (93)
Hawthorn    2.6    8.11     13.14    20.15 (135)

GOALS
Richmond: Morton 3, Riewoldt 3, Deledio 2, Tuck 2, Brown, Cousins, Jackson, Tambling
Hawthorn: Franklin 5, Dowler 4, Osborne 3, Kennedy 2, McGlynn 2, Rioli 2, Hodge, Lewis

BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Brown, Simmonds, Jackson, White, Cousins
Hawthorn: Franklin, Hodge, Sewell, Dowler, Bateman, Mitchell

INJURIES
Richmond: Thursfield (shoulder), Cousins (concussion), Newman (knee), Jackson (ankle), Edwards (eye)
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Kennedy, Nicholls, Hendrie

Official crowd: 34,779 at the MCG

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