PORT Adelaide has kept its flickering finals flame alight and plunged Richmond's season into free-fall with a hard-fought 35-point triumph at the MCG on Saturday night 

In an error-riddled contest between two sides bereft of self-belief, it was the Power who gritted their teeth and ground out a critical 13.16 (94) to 8.11 (59) win.

The victory squared Port's win-loss ledger at 3-3 and keeps Ken Hinkley's men firmly in the frame for a top-eight spot, but the Tigers are lurching towards a 2016 disaster after suffering their fifth-straight loss.

Five talking points: Richmond v Port Adelaide

Even the long-awaited return of Brett Deledio from a quad injury couldn't inspire Richmond, and the Tigers' hopes of a fourth-consecutive finals appearance are now on the brink of being extinguished for good after a 1-5 start to the year.

It only gets tougher for the Tigers, who will once again be without suspended backman Alex Rance for a season-defining Friday night clash with Hawthorn, whose pride has been wounded by a thumping loss to Greater Western Sydney.

"I've been thinking every game's season-defining at the moment. We've just got to worry about getting the four points, we can't worry about games on the line," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.

"Our players and our club in general has got to bounce back and play some respectable football, which we are capable of playing but we haven't seen it."

While the Tigers are desperately searching for answers, the Power have a golden opportunity to keep their momentum rolling when they return home to take on the struggling Brisbane Lions.

Although Port wasn't at its explosive best against Richmond, there were fleeting glimpses of the run-and-gun football that endeared the Power to fans during their charge to the 2014 preliminary final.

Without stars Robbie Gray (hamstring) and Chad Wingard (concussion), the Power withstood an early Richmond onslaught and took a five-point lead into quarter-time.

They edged further ahead at every break and coach Ken Hinkley would've been pleased by the performances of his side's lesser lights.

Emerging forward Aaron Young booted two majors in a match-defining five-goal second term, while fourth-gamer Darcy Byrne-Jones (16 disposals), Jarman Impey (three goals), Jake Neade (two) and Cam O'Shea (20 disposals) made meaningful contributions.

After being recalled from the SANFL, speedster Jared Polec (23 disposals) responded with a fierce effort, Matthew Broadbent (25, one goal) was superb and skipper Travis Boak (22, one goal) found some form playing in attack.

Speaking post-match, coach Ken Hinkley praised his troops for a strong response after another week of intense scrutiny. 

"It was a good, strong, four-quarter performance, which I was really proud of," Hinkley said.

"We understand why we've been under a lot of pressure, and we've soaked that pressure up a little bit, and the response of the group tonight I couldn't be more proud of them."

While the Power had contributors all over the ground, too much was left to too few for the Tigers, who lost Kamdyn McIntosh (corked leg) before the game and Kane Lambert to injury in the first term.

Lambert copped a knee to the back and was sent to hospital during the second quarter, reportedly struggling with breathing difficulties, although citing one fewer rotation as a reason for the loss would be giving the listless Tigers excuses.

One small positive for coach Damien Hardwick was Dustin Martin (31 disposals, one goal) bouncing back to his imposing best around the contest, but skipper Trent Cotchin (19 disposals) exerted minimal influence.

Shaun Grigg (32), Jack Riewoldt (three goals) and Bachar Houli (34) tried hard, but Richmond simply couldn't mount a serious challenge after Port opened up a three-goal half-time lead.

Deledio had 22 touches and booted an excellent snapped goal in his return match, but even the talismanic star – whose absence is often blamed for Richmond losses - couldn't stop the Tigers' season slipping towards the abyss.

Tigers' terrible turnovers

MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: Kane Lambert was sent to hospital after struggling to breathe following a first-quarter collision and has a suspected punctured lung, while late withdrawal Kamdyn McIntosh should be fit to face the Hawks after battling a corked leg in recent weeks. 

Port Adelaide: Jasper Pittard needed attention for an eye socket problem and Jake Neade also came off with a cut to the mouth in the first quarter, but both returned to play out the match. Otherwise the Power escaped relatively unscathed.

NEXT UP
The Tigers will need to draw on every ounce of confidence they can muster from beating Hawthorn in three of their last four meetings when they take on the wounded Hawks on Friday night at the MCG. The Power have a must-win home clash with the Brisbane Lions if they're to be a genuine finals contender.

It's a very sombre mood descending on Punt Road at the moment. Picture: AFL Media

RICHMOND             2.2   5.4      8.10     8.11   (59)
PORT ADELAIDE     2.7   7.10   11.13   13.16   (94)           

GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Grigg 2, Vickery, Martin, Deledio
Port Adelaide: Impey 3, Dixon 2, Young 2, Neade 2, Westoff, Broadbent, Boak, Krakouer 

BEST 
Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Houli, Edwards, B. Ellis, Riewoldt
Port Adelaide: Broadbent, Polec, Wines, Impey, Boak, Hartlett, O'Shea 

INJURIES 
Richmond: Lambert (ribs/lung/kidneys)
Port Adelaide: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Rosebury, Mollison, Roberts

Official crowd: 27,077 at the MCG