With a finals berth in their sights, Richmond claimed a three-point victory over the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium in the last round of the home and away season.
With key players Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy on the sidelines, the Swans were jumped early by the Tigers, who stamped their intentions in the first quarter, slotting the first five goals of the match.
A re-shuffle in the back line saw Dane Rampe move on Jack Riewoldt, and Sam Reid switch to defence, which were both moves that helped the Swans claw their way back into the match.
Two late goals in the opening term and two in the second quarter saw the Swans trail by just 13 points at the main break, with Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker’s impressive work helping the Swans win the ball through the midfield.
After trailing for the entire match, an Adam Goodes goal late in the third term put the Swans in front for the first time in the match, but the lead was short-lived with the Tigers hitting the front just before the three-quarter time siren.
In an intense final term, the Swans fought hard to regain the lead, but the Tigers were able to withstand the pressure, with Dustin Martin kicking the sealer to secure Richmond a place in the 2014 finals series.
Speaking after the match, coach John Longmire said while the Swans were disappointed to not come away with the win, the team’s effort in the second half was an improvement.
"We didn't start the way we'd like to in the first quarter and probably 10 minutes of the second," he said.
"I thought our effort after that was pretty good, but we just didn't start the way we'd like to.
"We were chasing our tail, but we fought the game out pretty well after that and in that last quarter, we had a real go and tried to win the game, which was good."
Sydney Swans 2.1 4.3 7.6 9.11 (65)
Richmond 5.3 6.4 8.5 10.8 (68)
Best: Hannebery, Jack, Parker, Rampe, Mitchell, Malceski
Goals: Reid 2, Goodes, McVeigh, Towers, Rohan, Parker, Tippett, Hannebery
Official crowd: 31,227 at ANZ Stadium
Brownlow Medal votes: Dan Hannebery 1
Bob Skilton Medal votes: Dane Rampe 39, Luke Parker 38, Dan Hannebery 38
