DAVID Mundy broke Richmond hearts for the second time in three seasons at the MCG on Sunday, booting a goal after the siren to deliver Fremantle a fifth victory in six outings.

In the wash-up, Josh Caddy's goal on the three-quarter time siren that was disallowed for interference by Jack Riewoldt on Joel Hamling proved critical in the Dockers' 10.12 (72) to 10.10 (70) win.

Fremantle was also bemused that a Brady Grey behind in the second term was not reviewed, despite Dockers forwards pleading their case.

The Tigers trailed by 30 points at the last break, but Brandon Ellis' clutch goal out of congestion with 21 seconds to go snatched them a four-point lead and put the faithful on their feet.

Ross Lyon's men had not kicked a goal in the fourth term to that stage, but 100-gamer Lachie Neale burst from the ensuing centre bounce to find Mundy in the pocket about 30m out.

Talking points: Mundy breaks Tiger hearts again

The former Dockers skipper missed in a similar scenario – albeit further out – against Geelong in round 20, 2014, but coolly nailed it this time to seal the triumph.

"For 75 per cent, I thought we were fantastic. For 24.99 per cent in the last quarter (we weren't) and then I will take that last little bit," Ross Lyon said, grinning.

"For three quarters, we were disciplined and played exactly how we wanted to play. I thought we planned and prepared well enough and then we just let them off the chain.

"They rolled the dice a bit and what happens sometimes when you roll the dice is you can just get out goal side a bit – it's a bit of lucky dip – but it went their way and then all of a sudden you blink and you are under pressure."

Watch the final two minutes

Richmond fans will still remember Mundy kicking a last-minute winner at their expense in round 17, 2015, on top of Karmichael Hunt's post-siren heroics for the Gold Coast in 2012.

Neale's kick into attack was just Fremantle's fourth inside 50 for the term, compared to 18 for the Tigers.

The Dockers (5-3) have left their ghastly 0-2 start – with defeats by a combined 131 points – well in the rear-view mirror to stamp themselves as genuine finals contenders after a horror 2016 campaign. 

Fremantle put the Tigers to the sword in a four-goal-to-none third quarter – with help from some contentious umpiring – on the back of Michael Walters' remarkable reincarnation as a midfielder.

The West Australians should have led by more than five goals at the last break and paid the price, with Richmond suddenly dominating the clearances and running rampant.

Riewoldt's 50m blast at the 23-minute mark, after a straightforward miss from 25m a minute earlier, hauled the Tigers within three points to set the scene for a grandstand finish.

Hamling quelled Riewoldt for most of the day, but the Richmond spearhead was a big part of the resurgence.

It was Fremantle's second win at the home of football in its current streak and third in as many meetings at the venue over the Tigers, the latest in front of a crowd of 31,200.

The Dockers boast the same win-loss record as Richmond, but the rivals will start the new week with drastically different mindsets.

A friendly draw helped the Tigers roar to a 5-0 start, but they have lost three straight games, starting with Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs – a contest in which Damien Hardwick's side led by 32 points.

"I thought our first three quarters were pretty poor. We didn't play anywhere near as well as we would have liked," Hardwick told reporters.

"We didn't defend particularly well and you look at the last 20 seconds and there are some things we can do better in that situation, too.

"But the damage was done, really, in the first three quarters, where we played a pretty poor brand of footy, to be honest."

Ex-Hawk Bradley Hill ran Richmond ragged in the opening half, winning 18 of his eventual 28 disposals and providing a constant option for his teammates.

He found a wonderful companion in one-time small forward Walters, who complemented Hill's outside dominance with a career-high 38 possessions, including 15 contested.

Shaun Grigg was the Tigers' leading ball-winner with 31, but Dustin Martin was the star, with eight influential last-quarter touches giving him 27 for the match.

MEDICAL ROOM

Richmond: One positive for the Tigers was they got through injury free.

Fremantle: Cameron Sutcliffe left the ground briefly in the second quarter with a minor cut on his head, but the Dockers will return west without adding to their injury list.

NEXT UP

Fremantle will start favourite back home at Domain Stadium on Sunday against Carlton as it seeks to climb further up the ladder. There will be little time for Richmond to lick its wounds, with Greater Western Sydney to come in six days' time.

RICHMOND     2.1   5.1   5.5   10.10  (70)
FREMANTLE     2.3   5.6   9.11   10.12 (72)          

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Caddy 2, Cotchin, Castagna, Martin, Rioli, Ellis
Fremantle: Taberner 2, Kersten 2, Mundy 2, Hill, Fyfe, McCarthy, Pearce

BEST 
Richmond: Rance, Martin, Grigg, Cotchin, Grimes
Fremantle: Walters, Hill, Johnson, Langdon, Hamling, Mundy

INJURIES 
Richmond: Nil
Fremantle: Sutcliffe (cut head)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Deboy, Mollison

Official crowd: 31,200 at the MCG