JACK Riewoldt's five goals has helped Richmond to a drought-breaking 41-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Riewoldt booted four first-half goals for the Tigers, while midfielders Brett Deledio (32 possessions) and Dustin Martin (33) were superb in the absence of superstar captain Trent Cotchin.
Richmond was far too good from the outset, setting up a 37-point quarter-time lead with another blistering start, and they are still yet to lose a first quarter in 2013.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said that if his side could maintain the level it played at in the opening term, the club could venture deeper into the season than it had for many seasons.
"We've got a squad of players that's quite capable of taking this club where it hasn't been for a period of time, we've just got to keep getting the wins," he said.
"We've got to keep playing to the level required that we see week in week out from the calibre sides like Geelong, Essendon, Collingwood, Hawthorn – these types of teams."
Click here to vote for the three best Richmond players from the game
Their first win since round three was soured though by a knee injury to Chris Knights in the second quarter.
Knights snapped for goal with his preferred left foot as his right knee looked to give way.
The ball rolled through for a goal but the Tiger, in his first season at Punt Road after joining the club form Adelaide as a free agent, was stretchered straight down into the rooms.
The club said Knights tore the patella tendon in his knee – an injury it expected to be "long term".
Five talking points: Port Adelaide v Richmond
Even without captain Cotchin the Tigers' midfield was hardly challenged as it drove the ball inside 50 with ease.
In its worst half of football for the season Port turned the ball over too often in front of opposition goal and through the corridor.
Power spearhead Jay Schulz kicked the first two goals of the third quarter and gave fans hope of yet another remarkable Power comeback, but it was hope short-lived as Jake King and Shaun Grigg responded for the Tigers.
Click here to vote for the three best Port Adelaide players from the game
It was all too easy for Richmond on the outside of the contest too, reflected by the lopsided 54 to 117 mark tally at three quarter time.
Grigg's second major extended Richmond's lead to 45 points and Riewoldt put the result beyond doubt with his fifth in the final quarter.
Schulz battled manfully up forward to finish with three goals, captain Travis Boak was solid and Kane Mitchell (two goals) was handy after he was subbed into the game at half time.
Port coach Ken HInkley said his side didn't handle Richmond's pressure well enough and was made to look poor.
"The Tigers put us under a lot of pressure, we haven't looked like that that often, we haven't overused the ball," he said.
"We panicked, we fumbled and lost our feet quite a bit, we were disappointed with how we handled their pressure but they were very good."
A knee injury to Chris Knights marred an otherwise good win for Richmond. Picture: AFL Media
RICHMOND 8.2 11.5 15.6 18.6 (114)
PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 4.5 6.10 10.13 (73)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 5, King 3, Grigg 2, Newman 2, Tuck 1, Nahas 1, Vlaustin 1, Knights 1, Martin 1, McGuane 1,
Port Adelaide: Schulz 3, Mitchell 2, Gray 1, Monfries 1, Moore 1, Wingard 1, Broadbent 1
BEST
Richmond: Deledio, Martin, Riewoldt, Stephenson, Ellis, Newman
Port Adelaide: Boak, Schulz, Wingard, Mitchell, Carlile Redden
INJURIES
Richmond: Knights (knee) 2nd quarter, Tuck (shoulder) 3rd quarter
Port Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Nathan Foley replaced Chris Knights in the second quarter
Port Adelaide: Kane Mitchell replaced Campbell Heath at half time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Findlay, Pannell
Official crowd: 25,372 at AAMI Stadium
