ESSENDON has beaten Richmond for the first time in two years with a stunning 40-point win in their Dreamtime at the 'G clash on Saturday night.

The Bombers ignited in the second half after the Tigers led by 16 points at half time, kicking 12 goals to three to set up the 19.11 (125) to 12.13 (85) scoreline.

It was Essendon's second win from five of these encounters, which form the centrepiece of the AFL's Indigenous Round.

Jason Winderlich won the Yiooken Award for his best-on-ground performance. The Essendon midfielder had 28 touches for the game and along with Jobe Watson (24), was instrumental in the Bombers' match-winning third term.

There were seven indigenous players involved in the game, with six representatives (Patrick Ryder, Leroy Jetta, Andrew Lovett, Courtenay Dempsey, Alwyn Davey and Nathan Lovett-Murray) from Essendon and one (Richard Tambling) from Richmond.

Ryder was significant in the side's third-term revival and took a screamer over three players in the fourth quarter, Lovett (23 possessions) was among the Bombers' most influential, Davey kicked three goals and Lovett-Murray flew above Adam Pattison for a soaring third-term grab.

Playing his 100th game, Shane Tuck was Richmond's best with 30 touches while Nathan Foley tried hard and captain Chris Newman gave the side drive from defence.

There was always going to be scrutiny on how Richmond would be affected by its narrow loss to Port Adelaide and a tumultuous wash-up, which saw coach Terry Wallace wrongly reported as sacked and the mindset of some key players questioned.

But the first goal went Richmond's way, and fittingly, to last week's villain Mitch Morton. Almost every Tiger on the ground congratulated Morton after he goaled two minutes in.

Dean Polo made it two from two shortly after and the Tigers were 13 points clear.

The Bombers got their first on the board through big-stage player David Zaharakis, who kicked truly after receiving a pass from Matthew Lloyd.

Essendon broke even with back-to-back goals but Richmond reared again to sink another three – interrupted only by a goal to Lloyd – to take a 16-point lead into the first break.

Winning the contested ball and clearances, it wasn't surprising the Tigers were on top at the start of the second. To the Bombers' credit, they reacted early and had the first two shots on goal – converting one through Zaharakis – that got them within nine points.

However, the Tigers lifted and snared three of the next four. An impressive team major at the 10-minute mark was the highlight of the term: Robin Nahas exploded out of the centre, found Nathan Brown who passed to Morton, who in turn guided the ball to Daniel Connors for a goal.

Connors' major pushed their lead out to 22 points – the biggest of the half – before Davey and Lloyd got the Bombers back in it once again.

Kayne Pettifer slotted his second after a brilliant handball under pressure from Nahas and Richmond was 16 points in front.

The Tigers had six opportunities to bury the Bombers in the first 10 minutes of the third, but could manage just three behinds.

In reply, the Bombers – led by Watson and Winderlich, who had 18 possessions between them and Ryder's dominance in the ruck – clawed their way back into the game.

Essendon kicked the last four goals of the term, with Lloyd's third at the 25-minute mark giving his side the lead for the first time. The skipper kicked another before the quarter was out, which gave the Bombers a 12-point lead at the final change.

It took the Bombers just 11 minutes to nail another four goals, putting the game beyond the Tigers' reach.

Pre-match entertainment featured indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, Dan Sultan and Scott Wilson, and a 'Welcome to the Country' ceremony conducted by Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy-Wandin.

Richmond     5.5   9.8   10.12   12.13 (85)
Essendon     3.1   7.4   13.6   19.11 (125)

GOALS
Richmond: Morton 3, Brown 2, Pettifer 2, Polo, Deledio, Connors, Collins, Cotchin
Essendon: Lloyd 4, Davey 3, Zaharakis 3, Watson 2, Lovett 2, Winderlich 2, Hocking, Monfries, Lonergan

BEST
Richmond: Tuck, Foley, Newman, Moore, Jackson, Brown
Essendon: Winderlich, Ryder, Watson, Lovett, Lloyd, Monfries, Zaharakis

INJURIES
Richmond: Thursfield (illness) replaced in selected side by Connors
Essendon: Dempsey (ankle), McPhee (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Vozzo, Wenn, Mollison

Official crowd: 73,625 at the MCG

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club.