IN A WEIRD round of football, there is something to be said for a conventional 28-point win.

We've seen snow, two record low scores, a handful of goalless quarters and a 21-consecutive goal run, but two traditional rivals played a typically soggy winter game at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

Richmond, recording its seventh consecutive win, was just a little bit too good for an outclassed Carlton, winning 11.7 (73) to 6.9 (45).

The Tigers celebrated Shane Edwards' 250th game with a win. Picture: AFL Photos

Intermittently heavy rain sent poncho-clad fans scattering throughout the game, with Carlton's decision to play three tall forwards in Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern and Levi Casboult an issue at ground level at times.

The Tigers don't play pretty football. It can be exhilarating, high-octane and at times, confusing and over-possessive, but it's not a classically beautiful game.

And initially, it didn't need to be. The Blues struggled to get run out of defence, constantly thwarted in the first half by the loose defender in their forward line, whether that be Nick Vlastuin, Bachar Houli or Dylan Grimes.

TIGERS WIN UGLY Full match coverage and stats

Vlastuin lived up to his nickname of "Tigger"; at one point almost literally bouncing out of defence, complete with a don't argue, change of angle and bounce of the ball, before finishing with a perfect pass to Sydney Stack.

Carlton seriously struggled in front of the big sticks in the first half.

In fact, the Blues' first goal eventually came in the 27th minute of the second term, when ruckman Matthew Kreuzer showed no signs of his two-week break for soreness, scooping up a poor Richmond kick off the deck and converting.

Without Dustin Martin (soreness) and Trent Cotchin (hamstring), milestone men Dion Prestia (150 games) and Shane Edwards (250) seemed to bring their own rain-resistant footballs, while unlikely scorer Jack Graham (14 tackles) booted four goals in the first half.

Nuggetty midfielder Prestia (35 disposals, 11 clearances) dominated the stoppages, while Edwards (27, nine tackles) floated between the middle and half-back.

Draftee Jack Ross' return to the AFL after close to a three-month layoff with an ankle injury was a tough battle, the midfielder (21 touches) playing a run-with role on Brownlow Medal fancy Patrick Cripps.

SELECTION SQUEEZE Damien Hardwick faces tough decisions next week

The Blue was typically dominant, recording 37 disposals (20 contested), while Sam Petrevski-Seton (18) and Kade Simpson (33 and nine rebound-50s) provided good run out of defence.

Carlton came out in the third term with a renewed endeavour to move the ball quickly, denying Richmond the opportunity to set up a loose man behind the ball.

Marc Murphy is no stranger to a curling goal from an MCG pocket in the wet, and after his shot was cleared by the goal-review system, duly saluted and rewarded his team's efforts.

With the margin at 24 points at three-quarter time, Carlton had three failed shots on goal to open the fourth quarter.

BLUES BETTER David Teague outlines where Carlton needs to improve to match it with the best

Jack Riewoldt settled the nerves with a classic pack mark and conversion in the pouring rain.

But a fierce McGovern tackle on David Astbury was rewarded with a free kick, and the resultant goal cut the margin to just 17 points with seven minutes left on the clock.

Mitch McGovern lays a fierce tackle on David Astbury. Picture: AFL Photos

But the Tigers hung tough, with late goals to Josh Caddy and Jason Castagna taking the margin to 28 points and a 14th win for the season.

MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: The Tigers seemed to get through unscathed.

Carlton: Aside from Mitch McGovern spending the opening eight minutes of the second half on the bench, it was a quiet day for the Blues.

NEXT UP
Carlton will face St Kilda in the early game on Saturday at the MCG, while Richmond will play reigning premiers West Coast for the first time this season at the same ground the following day.

RICHMOND    3.2       6.4       8.6       11.7 (73)
CARLTON        0.2       1.6       4.6       6.9 (45) 

GOALS
Richmond: Graham 4, Lynch 2, Riewoldt 2, Edwards, Caddy, Castagna
Carlton: McGovern 2, Kreuzer, Murphy, Casboult, Gibbons 

BEST
Richmond: Prestia, Edwards, Vlastuin, Lambert, Graham
Carlton: Cripps, Simpson, Thomas, Petrevski-Seton, Silvagni

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Carlton: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Deboy, Whetton, Findlay

Official crowd: 51,039 at the MCG