The Hawks did not lead for the entire match, but rectified a 35-point second term deficit by levelling the scores in the last minutes of the game, before Tim Fleming kicked the winning behind and Richard Vandenberg was unable to score from a set shot with 51 seconds remaining.
In what was a dramatic climax, Vandenberg was paid a free kick after being tripped on his attacking 50 metre arc, but his shot was marked by Ray Hall, who prevented what would have been a result altering score.
Danny Frawley’s side triumphed for just the third time in 20 matches, 12.12 (84) to Hawthorn’s 13.5 (83).
At the last change there was just a goal separating the equally desperate sides. Greg Tivendale, who had 30 touches and seven marks for the round six match, gave his side a 12-point buffer eight minutes in.
But when Nick Holland and Lekkas converted for the Hawks it seemed they might steal their second win this year.
Lekkas evened the score in the 23rd minute of the last term after soccering a loose ball through the big sticks before Vandenberg had the opportunity to win, or at least draw the game, with his set shot 50 meters out and on a 45 degree angle.
Vandenberg’s preceding effort to thrust the ball into his side’s attacking zone for one last time, was brave but ultimately worthless. And it is now Peter Schwab’s team that enters round seven with a solitary win for the season. That after Schwab asserted his club would win the 2004 premiership.
In spite of the battering it had received in the four winless weeks leading up to the match, Richmond began the match confidently and with success.
The Tigers kicked the opening five goals of the match to blaze away to a 29 point lead with the match only 15 minutes old. Hawthorn scraped together three goals – two through Mark Williams who, despite the company of a trio of taller teammates in Trent Croad, Nathan Thompson and Nick Holland, was the Hawks only reliable target for the entire match.
Richmond scored the first goal of the second term through Nathan Brown before Rory Hilton nailed his third major and sent his opponent Ben Dixon from the ground. Simon Beaumont minded him thereafter and significantly, Hilton did not bother the scorers further.
The margin was 34 points and the Hawks, constantly behind their men, were being well beaten. The Richmond players in contrast, were backing themselves and were superior in their second efforts.
Williams and Everitt – to that point Hawthorn’s only goal kickers – kept their side in touch after scoring consecutive goals and though Fiora scored, Campbell Brown and Nick Ries reduced the difference to a not insurmountable 20 points by half time.
Richmond had kicked more goals in the first half of this match than it managed for a whole game in a 75-point loss to Adelaide in round five. And though prolific ball winners Mark Coughlan and Campbell were not in the middle, Tivendale led the way by gathering 20 touches and five marks by the major break. At that point, the Hawks leading possession winner was Lekkas, who had 12.
The captains of both sides were clearly less than fully fit, as Shane Crawford lined up on a half back flank opposed to Brown and Campbell began on Campbell Brown in his side’s defence.
Notable also, was Frawley’s decision to start his horribly out of touch All Australian defender Darren Gaspar on the bench. Gaspar did not take to field until the 25th minute of the second term, and then found himself in the unusual position of attack.
Hawthorn slammed on three straight in a dynamic nine minutes of the third term – and their only passage of sustained dominance - as Ries, Sam Mitchell and Nathan Lonie managed to find more of the ball. Crawford began exerting influence, albeit from the back-half, and his side was helped by young Tiger Jay Schulz’s consecutive sprayed shots at goal.
Kane Johnson kicked his side’s only goal for the third term.
Richmond: 7.1 10.7 11.11 12.12 (84)
Hawthorn: 3.3 7.5 11.5 13.5 (83)
Goals: Richmond: Hilton 3, Brown, Tivendale 2, Ottens, Chaffey, Hyde, Johnson, Fiora
Hawthorn: Williams 5, Everitt 2, Ries, Brown, Lonie, Ball, Holland
Best: Richmond: Tivendale, Ottens, Fiora, Brown, Hyde, Fleming, Johnson
Hawthorn: Crawford, Mitchell, Everitt, Ries, Crawford, Beaumont, Lekkas, Williams
Injuries: Richmond: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil
Reports: TBC
Umpires: Vozzo, Woodcock, Nicholls
Crowd: 37,947 at Telstra Dome
