The Tigers found their feet in the fourth quarter to win by 38 points -- 16.14 (110) to 10.12 (72), despite a third term dominated by the Bombers that had the ingredients to force a thrilling close.
Fifty points down at the main break, Jobe Watson (20 disposals) encouraged Essendon's threat to dominate the second half by starving Richmond at the stoppages.
Earlier, the Tigers had all of the answers in that facet of the game and many others, mostly through best-on-ground Nathan Foley (32 disposals) and Brett Deledio (27) who punished the Bombers with almost every touch.
But that changed and, after kicking the last goal of the first half through Mark McVeigh, the Bombers found a new intensity to kick the first four goals of the third term that began with Jay Neagle.
Angus Monfries booted a nice goal from deep in the pocket before captain Matthew Lloyd added two in little more than a minute -- the first from a free kick 10m out.
His Richmond counterpart Kane Johnson replied and, when Nathan Brown (24) drilled his second, Essendon's momentum seemed snuffed.
However, Bomber Brent Stanton had other ideas, keeping the Dons hungry, before ruckman David Hille, very good in the second half, brought fans to their feet with another to keep the gap at 26 points at the final change.
Brown threaded an important steadier to open the last term yet Richmond's defence -- led by Joel Bowden, Will Thursfield and Jake King -- worked to arrest another Essendon fightback.
Still a quick reply came through Bomber Jay Nash, a late replacement for Ricky Dyson (suspected appendicitis), until Richmond found its attacking strengths once again.
Opportunities went beckoning after Matthew Richardson -- otherwise dominant with 19 disposals and 14 marks -- and Jordan McMahon slewed shots, though Deledio and Shane Edwards converted theirs to put the game beyond doubt.
Richardson made amends to kick his second while Essendon's efforts concluded with Lloyd's fourth.
The Tigers' victory was emphasised by its start, when first blood came through Brown, who crumbed a Richardson contest to goal after two earlier behinds within 20 seconds.
Youngster Matt White added another as the Bombers showed the worrying signs of six straight losses, and they continued.
Neagle and Lloyd missed chances to convert, then Richmond goaled through Foley, Edwards and Kayne Pettifer -- the latter a big bomb from outisde 50m.
Essendon small Leroy Jetta could have rewarded his side with two minutes remaining, but a shaky effort saw Richmond enter the first change with a 28-point lead.
Pettifer, a late replacement for key defender Graham Polak, kicked another to open the new term and was followed by Edwards who nailed his second after missing a chance moments earlier.
Twelve minutes into the term, Lloyd kicked the Bombers' first from 40m but there was little reason to celebrate as Richmond returned fire via Richardson; an average kick off the boot did all it needed to.
Adam Pattison provided the Tigers' 10th major, before McVeigh's goal lifted his side's spirits despite the huge challenge it faced in the second half.
Some warming formalities preceded the contest as a healthy crowd built to celebrate the relationship between the game and Indigenous Australia.
Richmond 5.3 10.8 12.10 16.14 (110)
Essendon 0.5 2.6 8.8 10.12 (72)
GOALS
Richmond: Brown 3, Edwards 3, Pettifer 2, Richardson 2, Deledio, Foley, Hyde, Johnson, Pattison, White
Essendon: Lloyd 4, Hille, Neagle, McVeigh, Monfries, Nash, Stanton
BEST
Richmond: Foley, Deledio, Brown, Pettifer, White, Edwards, Richardson
Essendon: Hille, Lloyd, Watson
INJURIES
Essendon: Ricky Dyson (suspected appendicitis) replaced in selected side by Jay Nash
Richmond: Graham Polak replaced in selected side by Kayne Pettifer
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Vozzo, Ryan
Official crowd: 60,333 at the MCG
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
