RICHMOND 5.2 10.5 13.6 16.9 (105)
HAWTHORN 2.5 4.10 7.15 10.16 (76)

GOALS
Richmond: Morton 3, Connors 3, Deledio, Cotchin, Edwards, Bowden, Richardson, McMahon, Tuck, Tambling, White, Cartledge.
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Brown 2, Lewis, Williams, Osborne, Bateman, Rioli.

BEST
Richmond: Tuck, Deledio, Richardson, Bowden, Moore, Connors.
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Lewis, Crawford, Birchall, Sewell, Guerra.

INJURIES
Richmond: Foley (hip) replaced by Polo in selected side.

REPORTS Simmonds (Rich) by umpire M Nicholls for forceful front-on contact against Murphy (Haw) in first quarter.

UMPIRES James, M Nicholls, Mollison.

CROWD 44,523 at the MCG.

MOMENTS after the final siren sounded yesterday to give Richmond its best win of the season, Matthew Richardson - who was yet again a hero in the Tigers' victory - embraced Hawthorn's Lance Franklin. The man known as 'Buddy' could have won the game off his own boot but, yet again, did not.

Last time, with a return of 1.7, Buddy's teammates helped him out; Jarryd Roughead booting 5.3. Yesterday Franklin was again wayward, kicking 3.6 as the Tigers poured on the pressure and played one of their most consistent matches under Terry Wallace.

The Tigers' impressive 29-point win keeps them in the hunt for a finals berth, even if their mood was dampened two hours later by news that St Kilda had defeated Fremantle.

Roughead played further up the ground yesterday, had just five disposals, only one (uncontested) mark, failed to trouble the scorers even with a behind, and had almost no impact on the match.

Speaking after the match, Richardson, whose 29 possessions and crunch goal in time-on of the final term sealed the match, said he had told Franklin: "Good luck and I hope you get your 100 next week."

From the opening minutes it was obvious Richmond had found the form, resolve and discipline it forgot to take to Adelaide last week. The Tigers also displayed a level of skill and decision-making poise that is too often lacking in their armoury.

Four goals to one in the first 11minutes and they were on their way, another to Mitch Morton in time-on, as the Hawks kicked five behinds. Suddenly the margin was out to 21points, which proved decisive in a game that ebbed and flowed but one that neither side could break open.

Franklin had two in the first term, yet despite his teammates' desire to feed him the ball, was well manned by Kelvin Moore and at times Will Thursfield, with Luke McGuane leaping into packs to lend a fist. Franklin's only other major came soon after half-time.

Wallace has learnt from Alastair Clarkson's use of the rolling zone, and both sides struggled to break through the lines in the second term.

By midway through the term, Richmond was coping better, Shane Edwards snapping truly, Daniel Connors capitalising on a torpedo from Chris Newman out of full-back to link up with Daniel Jackson, and Richard Tambling goaling brilliantly on the run and then following up with another in time-on from a set shot free courtesy of a Jordan Lewis push in the back.

The Tigers went to the main break having outscored Hawthorn five goals to two in both quarters, but when Franklin goaled in the first minute one feared the giant had been roused.

Yet the Hawks midfield of Luke Hodge, Brad Sewell and Chance Bateman was well down on its best, notwithstanding the fine efforts of Sam Mitchell, while the contested work of Shane Tuck, Brett Deledio, Trent Cotchin and Dean Polo was gathering plenty of first use and rattling the Hawks.

They were ably supported by the resurgent Joel Bowden, who stood tall yet again.

Despite Hawthorn's pressure and Richmond's virtual failure to get the ball inside its half of the ground for 15minutes of the third term, the Hawks failed to take full toll.

Goals to Cyril Rioli and Bateman were dissected by one to the Tigers' Tristan Cartledge after a silly 50-metre penalty. And four shots on goal missed the target - two from the boot of Franklin.

Richmond fought on gamely in their back half and if fortune could be said to favour their brave defending, they managed a rare thrust forward in which Trent Cotchin kicked long on his left to a marking contest that Morton was able to run off and soccer through on the siren.

With their legs spent, Richmond had lost their run in the opening minutes of the last. The Hawks, sensing their chance, pounced, Campbell Brown booting two in three minutes.

With the margin down to 15 points, the Hawks looked set to roll over the top of the Tigers, but their usual poise, hard running and skill level was simply not there, and the Tigers responded.

Polo smothered a speculative handball from Shane Crawford, gathered the ball and dished off to Deledio who goaled on the run. Then Mark Williams goaled in return, and another Hawthorn turnover set up a goal for Jordan McMahon.

Richo by this stage was running from end to end, helping out in defence, linking up in the midfield and presenting across half-forward.

Fittingly, Richardson scored the last goal of the match after a fine mark, Trent Croad capping off an average game with a 50-metre penalty.

Encouragingly for the Tigers they had 75 more possessions than their more fancied opponents and won 17 more contested possessions.

THE UPSHOT
For probably a half of football, Richmond dared to believe it was in with a real chance of playing finals. Then St Kilda kicked ahead of Fremantle to bring the Tigers back down to earth with a thud. Having to rely on St Kilda or Collingwood (or both) to lose their last two games is too thin a hope.

TALKING POINT
Alastair Clarkson, it seems, wasn't happy with the MCG surface, suggesting it was too slippery and soft. But he said later he wasn't really having a whinge. Richmond ruckman Troy Simmonds was booked for a high and unnecessary contact to Thomas Murphy, but if the charge does not get thrown out, the AFL will next year merge with Netball Australia.

HOT AND COLD
The hot has to go to the Tigers' defence of Kel Moore, Luke McGuane and Will Thursfield, who helped contain what is meant to be the most potent forward line in the AFL. The cold, of course, must go to Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead, who kicked only 3.6 between them. Well, Franklin kicked 3.6, Roughead's closest shot went out of bounds on the full.