GIVEN their day started with a group photo at neighbouring Punt Road Oval to celebrate the club reaching 90,000 members, festive Richmond fans came to the MCG on Sunday looking for a performance rather than contest.
Which is precisely what they got. The Tigers (6-1) dominated Fremantle (3-4) from the get-go, romping to a 77-point win, 15.20 (111) to 4.9 (33), that keeps them on top of the ladder with almost a third of the season gone.
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Richmond kept Fremantle to just 1.3 in the first half, the Dockers' equal second-lowest first-half score in club history.
But the die was cast before then, with the visitors sticking just four tackles in the first quarter. To call it bruise-free footy would be to heap too much praise.
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That's not to say there wasn't some interest.
On a weekend when the AFL's goal review has been a talking point, two apparent Richmond goals in the second term – to Dustin Martin and then Josh Caddy – were overturned when players from both sides had headed back to the middle of the ground to set up for the next bounce.
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Both calls were correct, but the process and the timing will be a discussion point, with Richmond coach Damien Hardwick, a leading critic of aspects of the goal review system, notably peeved in the coaches' box after the Caddy goal was overturned.
Hardwick would also have been disappointed with the third term, in which the Tigers added just five points in their first goalless quarter of football since round nine last year against Greater Western Sydney.
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Ever so briefly the margin dropped to four goals as the Dockers finally played some attacking and direct footy, but the ladder leaders asserted themselves again with eight unanswered goals in the final quarter with to round out the thumping win.
It was the consummate team performance from the Tigers.
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Jack Riewoldt (three), Kane Lambert and Jacob Townsend (two each) were the only multiple goal scorers. Martin (26) led the Tigers in possessions without ever appearing to get out of second gear. It is as though the superstar knows there are bigger fish to fry than Fremantle in May.
Alex Rance was great in defence, Kane Lambert's improvement was underlined once again and Bachar Houli, Kamdyn McIntosh and Josh Caddy were consistent throughout. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
And while the Dockers had the decided edge in clearances, 44-22, the Tigers barely missed injured skipper Trent Cotchin, a late withdrawal from a knee injury.
"We did get beaten in contested ball, but I thought our endeavour was pretty good," Hardwick said, adding that he wasn't sure what would happen given the side was playing its third game in 13 days.
"Our guys were tired, but we challenged them at three-quarter-time. When they get questioned they respond and then some. I'm proud of how they performed."
Fremantle's best was Nat Fyfe, who was tireless with 33 touches. In all likelihood, he was the best player on the ground despite the lop-sided score. He really is getting back to his best, but the support cast around him isn't what it used to be, and the Dockers sorely missed the injured Michael Walters for the X-factor he brings to the forward line.
Four goals on a still, dry day at the MCG was a pitiful return and was the club's fourth-lowest score ever.
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"We came with here with high expectations, but we didn't use the ball how we wanted," Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said. "We didn't play how we wanted to play and they took full advantage of that."
MEDICAL ROOM:
Richmond: Dion Prestia had some ice applied to his lower leg late in the match and didn't return to the ground afterwards, with Hardwick suggesting he might be in doubt for next week. Trent Cotchin should be fine for next week after withdrawing pre-match with a knee injury.
Fremantle: The Dockers came out of the match with a clean bill of health.
NEXT WEEK: A rare game away from the MCG for the Tigers as they travel across town to Etihad Stadium for a Mother's Day match-up with the in-form North Melbourne. The Dockers host floundering St Kilda on Saturday night at Optus Stadium.
RICHMOND 4.5 7.11 7.16 15.20 (110)
FREMANTLE 1.1 1.3 4.8 4.9 (33)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Lambert 2, Townsend 2, Houli, Higgins, Lloyd, McIntosh, Conca, Caddy, Graham, Castagna
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Ballantyne, McCarthy, Cox
BEST
Richmond: Rance, Prestia, Grimes, McIntosh, Houli, Martin
Fremantle: Fyfe, Sandilands, Neale, Hamling, Brayshaw
INJURIES
Richmond: Cotchin (knee) replaced in the selected side by Lloyd, Prestia (calf)
Fremantle: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Haussen, Meredith
Official crowd: 43,240 at the MCG
