Richmond has survived a final-term St.Kilda onslaught to get home by 26 points at Telstra Dome on Easter Monday, winning 17.5 (107) to 11.15 (81).
The match turned into a massive struggle after the Tigers had surged to a 36-point lead 10 minutes into the third term.
From that point, St.Kilda kicked the only goal to three-quarter time and, despite Adam Houlihan’s great mark over Xavier Clarke and goal to start the final quarter, the Saints continued to come at an increasingly nervous and uncertain Richmond outfit.
Steven Milne displayed his goal-kicking flair, booting two in a minute to reduce the gap to 24 points with only 5:30 showing on the clock.
St. Kilda’s endeavour was admirable but its shooting at goal during the frantic final minutes was not, with Milne among several players failing to kick accurately at goal, and they managed 2.6 for the term.
When Houlihan kicked his second of the quarter and fourth of the match deep in time-on to secure victory, St. Kilda was left to rue its missed opportunities in addition to a lack of discipline early.
Earlier, Richmond took advantage of being afforded time and space to kick four consecutive majors midway through the first quarter to advance to a 17-point advantage.
The Tigers added two more majors to lead by 20 points at quarter-time, with the first of those gifted to Joel Bowden after he, David Rodan and Mark Coughlan were the only players from both sides at the bottom of a marking contest deep inside forward 50.
Bowden featured again in the second term, scoring a fantastic goal after baulking three opponents to slot a goal and put the Tigers ahead by 34 points.
But to St. Kilda’s credit it recovered and started to create more of an impact at the contest. With skipper Aaron Hamill kicking two goals and debutant Brendan Goddard notching his first in AFL footy, the Saints kicked three goals to one in time-on and ensured they entered the second half very much in the contest.
Sensing a need to respond, the Tigers started the third stanza full of running and, Steven Milne’s agonizing poster for the Saints aside, resumed their dominance with three goals in the first 10 minutes.
But Richmond was unable to break the game open, adding only a further two points and conceding a goal to Fraser Gehrig before ending the third term 31 points in front.
In terms of injuries, Richmond’s Justin Blumfield left the field in the first-quarter with a thigh injury and was unable to return.
Richmond's third straight win consolidates its position inside the top eight with 12 points, while the Saints suffer their second successive defeat.
In round five, the Tigers face Hawthorn at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, with St.Kilda hosting Geelong at Telstra Dome the next day.
ST KILDA: 3.4, 8.6, 9.9, 11.15 (81)
RICHMOND: 7.1, 12.2, 15.4, 17.5 (107)
GOALS: St Kilda: Hamill 3, Milne 2, Hayes, Lawrence, Koschitzke, Hudghton, Goddard, Gehrig.
Richmond: Houlihan 4, Cameron, Richardson, Coughlan, Bowden, Rodan 2, Tivendale, Blumfield, Chaffey.
BEST: St Kilda: Hamill, Clarke, Koschitzke, Ball, Gehrig.
Richmond: Coughlan, Bowden, Chaffey, Houlihan, Johnson, Tivendale.
INJURIES: St Kilda: Lawrence (ankle)
Richmond: Blumfield (strained thigh), Campbell (corked thigh)
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Rowe, Dore, Kennedy.
CROWD: 44,382 at Telstra Dome
