SIX GOALS from spearhead Jack Riewoldt and a huge second half from skipper Trent Cotchin has led Richmond to a stunning 18-point comeback win against the Sydney Swans. 

In a physical, often niggly affair, the Tigers stormed back from a lacklustre first half to claim a 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77) victory, having trailed by 32 points at half-time.

Five talking points: Sydney Swans v Richmond

The win consolidated Richmond's position inside the top eight, while the Swans have some worries, not least the reports of star forwards Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett. 

All up, the Tigers booted 11 goals to three after the main interval to post another significant road win, having overcome Fremantle two weeks ago in Perth, and establish their credentials as a genuine finals contender.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said the club's leaders lifted after being "monstered around the scrimmages" during a poor opening half.

"We looked down and out at halftime. The second quarter was as poor as we have played for quite some time," Hardwick told reporters after the match.

"I thought the guys showed great poise and character to come back."

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Despite a bright start, the Swans were distracted and sloppy for a lot of the contest, ensuring their six-game unbeaten run came to an end.

The 9-3 Swans also face the prospect of being without Franklin and Tippett in the short-term after the pair was reported in two separate incidents. 

In the second term, Franklin ran past the footy just outside the Swans' attacking 50m and, with his left arm tucked into the side of his body, collected Shane Edwards in the head. 

Field umpire Justin Schmitt reported the star forward.

Although Edwards got to his feet immediately and managed to take his free kick, he looked dazed and came off the ground shortly afterwards. 

Edwards was late to return from the rooms after half-time as he underwent a concussion test. And in further drama, the Tigers were penalised for an interchange infringement in the third term when they tried to get Edwards back on the ground before the player had served the mandatory 20-minute concussion period. 

Tippett was the second player to go into umpire Schmitt's book early in the third term, when the 28-year-old raised his right elbow in a marking contest and struck Dylan Grimes in the head.

Grimes looked shaken after the clash, staying on the ground for a few moments before regaining his feet. 

But amongst the carnage, Riewoldt lit up the SCG on a chilly Friday night. The star Tiger kicked his sixth goal at the 22-minute mark of the final term to put his team in front for good in an enthralling encounter witnessed by 37,579 fans.

And Tigers skipper Cotchin also had a big impact on the contest, providing most of the visitors' drive forward on his way to 27 possessions.

The Swans, who had looked in control for most of the first half when they extended a one-goal quarter-time advantage to a 32-point lead at the main break, found themselves under pressure after the Tippett clash as the Tigers worked their way bravely back into the contest. 

Swans coach John Longmire said his side could not regain the momentum after Richmond's big third quarter.

"Teams get momentum and it happens in football every game, all the time. We had it in the first half, they came out and clearly had it in the third," Longmire said.

"It's just the way the game is played, you've got to make sure that when you wrestle the momentum back you then surge again, and we didn't surge again. They did."

Cotchin, who had good support from the likes of Anthony Miles (28 touches), Dustin Martin (24) and Shaun Grigg (24) got things started for the visitors with the first of four unanswered Richmond goals in a 12-minute burst that reduced the margin to single digits. 

WATCH: Alex Rance gets the job done over Lance Franklin

And although the Swans responded with goals from Tom Mitchell and Luke Parker, it was Richmond that took a deserved two-point lead into the final term thanks to a pair of goals from the mercurial Riewoldt.

All up, the Tigers booted 11 goals to three after the main interval to post another significant road win, having overcome Fremantle two weeks ago in Perth, and establish their credentials as a genuine finals contender. The men from Punt Road face GWS at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Swans will be anxiously awaiting the findings of the Match Review Panel, and spend the next six days ahead of their round 14 meeting with Port Adelaide on Thursday night wondering how they let slip a more than five-goal advantage.

Lance Franklin won the early skirmishes but Alex Rance dominated the big forward. Picture: AFL Media


SYDNEY SWANS    3.4   8.7   10.8     11.11 (77)
RICHMOND             2.4   3.5   10.10   14.11 (95)

GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Parker 2, Rohan 2, Derickx, Hannebery, Kennedy, Mitchell, Tippett
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Newman, Cotchin, Deledio, Vickery, Ellis, Gordon, Maric, Miles

BEST 
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Parker, McVeigh, Hannebery, Rohan, Grundy
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Miles, Rance, Ellis, Maric 

INJURIES 
Sydney Swans: Nil
Richmond: Nil 

SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Tom Mitchell replaced by Zak Jones at three quarter-time
Richmond: Kane Lambert replaced by Kamdyn McIntosh in the last quarter

Reports: Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans) reported for engaging in rough conduct on Shane Edwards in the second quarter.
Kurt Tippett (Sydney Swans) reported for striking Dylan Grimes in the third quarter.

Umpires: Schmitt, Chamberlain, Meredith 

Official crowd: 37,579 at the SCG