TURNOVERS and Richmond's ability to win the contested ball cost Melbourne a victory at Telstra Dome on Sunday evening, according to coach Dean Bailey.

Speaking after Richmond's 22-point win, Bailey said his team's poor second quarter – when the Tigers booted eight unanswered goals – proved the game-turner.

"We had our chances. We had a real disappointing second quarter – we had the ball enough in the second quarter – we just couldn't stop the momentum," Bailey said.

"It was just a big wave and we just couldn't stop it. We had the ball in our hands often enough to do it and we couldn't do it, but to their credit, that second quarter was pretty good for them."

The Dees launched a second-half revival, coming within eight points in the final quarter. Bailey said a key marking target may have swayed the result.

"I think a David Neitz or a Russell Robertson out of the goal square might have just taken a mark and kicked a goal," Bailey said. "Easy for me to say, but the answer is that we've got to have other players doing that and we've got to take our chances.

"We had too many shots, probably from 45 to 55 [metres] today – hence the Richmond guys were marking them right on the goal square.

"We had our chances and whoever was there [in a] Melbourne jumper, it doesn't matter, because those two guys aren't there, but [we need] someone to take a contested mark or lead up really hard to mark it.

"We sent Col Garland forward at one stage there and it was good to see Col – even though he played down back and I thought played another really good game – go forward and take a mark and kick a goal. That was a good option for us to use."

Bailey was pleased his side showed some grit after half time to get back into the contest.

"I think there's always a positive sign when you can generate enough goals to get back into the game and enough ball movement and enough scoreboard pressure. That's good, but at the end of the day you want to prevent having to do that," Bailey said.

"We really let ourselves down in the second quarter. I think our members and supporters would've been really disappointed with our second quarter, as we were and as the players were."

As for Aaron Davey's dazzling leap and mark over Richmond superstar Matthew Richardson, Bailey said that type of feat can only add to a player's confidence.

"He took that spectacular mark, which was great for Aaron. It's a real confidence boost when your senior players can add a little bit of that to the game."