RICHMOND has kept its finals hopes alive with a hard-fought 22-point win over Melbourne in an extraordinary game at Telstra Dome.

Nathan Brown kicked the sealer in his 200th game after Melbourne had cut a 38-point half-time lead to single digits.

The Tigers looked on the ropes midway through the final quarter, but Brown snapped to finish off a flowing move and seal a 16.20 (116) to 14.10 (94) win.

Richmond blew the game open with a sizzling second quarter, holding the Demons scoreless after the seven-minute mark while slamming on eight unanswered goals.

But the Demons kicked four straight goals in the third term – the best of them after a huge hanger by Aaron Davey – to go in at the last change 19 points down. Goals to Jeff White and Austin Wonaeamirri cut the gap to eight points in the final term.

Brad Miller and Nathan Jones had chances to put the Demons within a kick, before Brown's snap and late goals to Mitch Morton and Shane Tuck steadied Richmond nerves.

Matthew Richardson was outstanding, drifting back from the wing to kick five goals for the Tigers, taking his season tally to 35, while Brett Deledio had 29 touches. Brown kicked three goals, including two in the second-quarter blitz.

The Demons started in spirited fashion, jumping to an early lead as star ballwinners Brock McLean (27 touches) and Cameron Bruce (29) led from the front in the early exchanges.

And when key forward Brad Miller booted a long bomb from wide out just two minutes into the second term, Dean Bailey’s men – who led by as much as 21 points in the first term – extended their lead to 15 points.

But from then on the second quarter was all Richmond's. Helped by some Deledio dash, the Tigers started to win the ball from the middle, and once they got it anywhere near Richo, he seemed to do the rest or at least help others get into the action.

Cotchin capped his good work with a major, Jack Riewoldt took a hanger and even Graham Polak found his range as Richmond kicked eight consecutive goals – including seven in 11 minutes – to take a 38-point lead into the long break.

Melbourne did not score after the nine-minute mark of the second term, while Richmond slammed on 7.6.

The Demons showed plenty of pluck to fight back with five goals to two in the third term.

Paul Wheatley, Bruce and Miller helped lead the revival, but ultimately Richmond always had a little too much in the bank.

And Richardson, wherever he roamed on the field, proved a menace.

The Tigers travel to AAMI Stadium next Saturday efternoon to take on a struggling Port Adelaide side, while the Demons meet the Sydney Swans at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Sunday.

Richmond         3.6       11.13   13.15   16.20 (116)
Melbourne       5.3       6.5       11.8     14.10 (94)

GOALS
Richmond: Richardson 5, Brown 3, Morton 2, Cotchin, Hyde, Polak, Simmonds, Tuck, White
Melbourne: Miller 3, Bartram 2, Bruce 2, Davey 2, Bate, Garland, Green, White, Wonaeamirri

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Deledio, Brown, Tuck, Cotchin, Polak
Melbourne: Bruce, Wheatley, McLean, Miller, White, Garland

INJURIES
Richmond: tbc
Melbourne: tbc

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.