RICHMOND has overcome the loss of superstar Dustin Martin to a hamstring injury in an important 35-point AFL win over West Coast.
The Tigers moved back into the top-eight after riding a third-quarter challenge to prevail 20.8 (128) to 13.15 (93) at the MCG on Sunday.
Daniel Rioli (28 disposals), Jayden Short (21) and Marlion Pickett (25) were strong contributors for Richmond, who leapfrogged Sydney and St Kilda into seventh spot on percentage.
Martin looked slick with 17 disposals, eight score involvements, four clearances and 359 metres gained before leaving the field during the third term.
He failed a fitness test on the boundary line and was substituted out with what the club described as “hamstring awareness”.
Both sides were a man down when West Coast lost injury-plagued utility Elliot Yeo to a more serious hamstring issue at about the same stage of the match.
The lowly Eagles got a lift out of Nic Naitanui’s return from a knee injury, with Tim Kelly (40 disposals, nine clearances) and Luke Shuey (26, 11) busy at the ruck star’s feet.
Naitanui was influential at stoppages, finishing with 19 disposals, 26 hit-outs and six clearances as the Eagles won the clearance battle (45-31).
Kelly capped a superb individual display with two goals and Jamie Cripps kicked three.
Richmond had more firepower in attack, sharing the scoring load and making the most of their chances.
Jack Riewoldt (three), Shai Bolton, Shane Edwards, Tom Lynch, Kamdyn McIntosh, Liam Baker and Pickett (two each) all kicked multiple goals.
It was a scrappy opening, plagued with a series of skill errors by foot from both sides.
Martin and Rioli were exceptions as their slick ball use helped Richmond kick the final four goals of the first half to lead by 34 points at the main break.
They increased the advantage to as much as 39 points before the Eagles enjoyed a brief period of dominance after Martin and Yeo went off.
The visitors kicked 6.5 to 4.1 for the third quarter and an upset was on the cards when debutant Zane Trew calmly converted a free kick to cut the margin to 11 points.
But the Tigers steadied through Liam Baker when Naitanui’s tangle with Ivan Soldo off the ball resulted in Shannon Hurn’s defensive mark being turned into a Richmond free kick close to goal.
Eagles forward Jack Darling out-muscled Josh Gibcus to kick an early goal but was kept fairly quiet in his 250th game.
(C) AAP 2022
