1. MRP trouble for Cotchin?

Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin will come under scrutiny from the Match Review Panel on Monday after a late swinging arm hit to the head of Greater Western Sydney midfielder Zac Williams. The uncharacteristic motion from Cotchin came on the wing in a marking contest, and he collected Williams with his forearm. Williams was floored after the impact and a melee ensued between the teams, before the 20-year-old won a 50-metre penalty. The umpires did not lay a report against Cotchin. It was the only blemish for the Richmond captain, who was best-afield with 33 disposals in his team's come-from-behind nine-point win. He also kicked two important goals for his team on a day when goals were hard to come by. 

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2. Maric reported for elbow

While Cotchin will wait to see if he is in any strife, Tigers ruckman Ivan Maric was reported for striking young Giant Jack Steele in the third term. Steele was attempting to go third man-up at a boundary throw-in, when Maric spotted him from the corner of his eye. Maric threw his elbow out and collected Steele in the throat, and was immediately reported for striking. It was a frustrating day for Maric, who had Tom Downie and Rory Lobb as his competition in the ruck. Former basketballer Downie, in for his first AFL game for nearly two years, held his own around the ground in a performance that would have pleased coach Leon Cameron.   

3. Griffen's move to half-back a success
The Giants probably didn't recruit former Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen to use him off half-back, but the 28-year-old had an impact in defence against Richmond on Saturday. An explosive midfielder at his best, Griffen's first season with the Giants hasn't been the raging success he might have hoped, with him yet to pass 30 disposals in a game. But his poise and experience down back was valuable for the Giants in the tight contest against Richmond. Griffen finished with 24 disposals and 10 marks, and was one of his team's better players in the spirited loss.

4. Undermanned Giants' backline get the points

Greater Western Sydney's depleted backline group faced a big task against the Tigers, whose in-form trio Jack Riewoldt, Ben Griffiths and Ty Vickery have been central to their peak in form. Already without Joel Patfull and Phil Davis, the Giants lost tall defender Nick Haynes to a groin injury during the week, meaning they were without their three best backmen. It left the Giants with an undersized and inexperienced back group, with Matt Buntine starting on Riewoldt, Aidan Corr on Vickery and second-gamer Caleb Marchbank up against Griffiths. But they had one (major) thing in their favour: it was wet and slippery and the ball spent most of the day on the ground. The Tigers trio combined for just three goals, with Riewoldt most influential, but the young Giants defenders were more than serviceable. 

5. A solemn sense at the MCG
The far-reaching impact of Adelaide coach Phil Walsh's sudden death lingered over the MCG on Saturday. Walsh played 40 games for Richmond over three seasons from 1984-1986, and had close ties with many at the club. He was an assistant coach at Port Adelaide to Mark Williams, who is now the Tigers' senior development coach. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick also played under Walsh in the Power's 2004 premiership team. At the Giants, they have two assistants – Chad Cornes and Dean Brogan – who also played under Williams and Walsh at the Power. Like every game this weekend, there was a moment's silence before the first bounce in tribute to Walsh. And after the win, the famous Richmond theme song did not blare out of the speakers out of respect for Walsh and the grieving Adelaide Crows. Instead, both teams huddled arm-in-arm for a sombre end to a hard-fought game.