RICHMOND won't want to watch a replay of Monday night's win over Gold Coast, as the reigning premier survived a huge scare before overwhelming its younger opponent by 21 points at the Gabba.
TIGERS v SUNS Full match coverage and stats
The Tigers trailed by 10 points at half-time before kicking three unanswered goals in the third term and running away late to win 8.5 (53) to 4.8 (32).
>> WATCH THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
The victory solidifies their spot just outside the top four ahead of Saturday's Dreamtime game against Essendon in Darwin, but it was anything but impressive.
Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt kicked two goals apiece, while skipper Trent Cotchin (26 disposals) and defender Dylan Grimes were also solid.
If Gold Coast had more belief it would have won.
THE LADDER Where is your team sitting?
Hugh Greenwood missed a simple set shot early in the third quarter that would have bumped the Suns' lead to 17 points, and when Nick Holman dropped an easy chest mark within range minutes later, the tide turned.
Jack Lukosius (27 disposals) and Noah Anderson (26) were sensational for the losers, playing the best games of their young careers.
Richmond won through weight of territory, finishing with 54 inside 50s to 29.
To mangle an old cliche, the first half was a genuine 'game of two quarters' with Richmond owning the first and Gold Coast the second.
The Suns took a 10-point lead into half-time, largely on the back of manic pressure in the second quarter and a defensive 50 performance that was among the best in club history.
ROUNDS 12-18 Check out the full fixture
Richmond generated 17 inside 50s in the first quarter and 25 in the half, yet could muster just four scoring shots as Charlie Ballard and Wil Powell intercepted at will, Jack Bowes showed composure to get out of tight corners and Lukosius generated some much-needed drive.
Lynch in Match Review trouble again?
Just two matches after escaping with a fine for a clip to the head of Brisbane's Alex Witherden, Tom Lynch is likely to come under the eye of the Match Review Officer again. Deep in the fourth quarter and with the Tigers leading narrowly, Lynch whacked Suns' defender Sam Collins in the stomach, dropping him to the ground. Lynch was then able to lead out almost unchallenged and take a mark that he converted from 45m.
What a difference a year makes
In the corresponding game last season, Richmond was on course to set all sorts of records at half-time, embarrassing the Suns at Metricon Stadium. The Tigers topped the ton by the half, generated 23 scoring shots and led by 84 points. Monday night's game could not have been a bigger contrast. The Suns, coming off a five-day break, put a slow first quarter behind them to pressure the premier into uncharacteristic errors and deserved their 10-point half-time lead.
Gold Coast's precocious talent
The No.2 pick from the 2018 draft, Jack Lukosius, played his best game for the Suns. Not only is Lukosius looking more assured defensively, but the drive he gave the Suns from half-back was a major reason they pushed the Tigers for so long. The 20-year-old is the designated risk-taker from the back-half, happy to kick with dare and show his exquisite skills with long, penetrating bombs or deft passes on a 45-degree angle. He finished with 27 disposals at 63 per cent efficiency and gained a match-high 836m.
RICHMOND 2.1 2.2 5.2 8.5 (53)
GOLD COAST 2.1 3.6 3.8 4.8 (32)
GOALS
Richmond: Lynch 2, Riewoldt 2, Chol, McIntosh, Pickett, Soldo
Gold Coast: Flanders, King, Sexton, Ellis
BEST
Richmond: Grimes, Riewoldt, Short, Cotchin, McIntosh, Vlastuin
Gold Coast: Anderson, Lukosius, Bowes, Ballard, Powell, Ellis
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Gold Coast: Nil
