After Richmond held a 42-point lead at half time, the Tigers let North Melbourne back into the game, conceding nine goals to two in the second half. Scores finished deadlocked 12.13 (85) apiece.
The Tigers hit the post twice in the last quarter, but a late goal to Mitch Morton was enough for the draw after the Kangaroos got out to a six-point lead with 90 seconds remaining.
With the late withdrawals of midfield star Ben Cousins and young gun Trent Cotchin – replaced by Mark Coughlan and Jordan McMahon – due to illness, it was the youngsters that led the yellow and black.
Richard Tambling continued his rich vein of form, starring with 27 possessions and four clearances.
Jack Riewoldt proved to be an excellent target up forward, taking eight marks – three of them contested – and kicking three goals, while Shane Edwards provided dash and stability deep in defence.
At the other end of the ground, Jarrod Silvester did a sensational job in just his third game for the season, restricting Roos tall forward David Hale.
Midfielder Brett Deledio celebrated his 100th game by restricting North defender Leigh Harding to just 17 possessions.
Dean Polo, Matt White and Daniel Jackson could not stop Brent Harvey, with the Kangaroo captain finishing with 31 possessions.
Robin Nahas began the game on fire, giving North Melbourne tagger Brady Rawlings a torrid time.
He had the Tiger faithful roaring when, after receiving a free-kick 50m from goal, he took Rawlings on, weaving around the Roo and kicking a memorable goal to give Richmond a 20-point quarter-time lead.
But the Tigers continued to build on their lead with a six-goal-to-two second-quarter to go into the main break with a commanding 42-point lead.
The Tigers’ leg-speed through the middle proved too much for North Melbourne side, with Morton slotting home an excellent goal from a chain of handballs through the centre corridor.
The Tigers’ ferocity at the contest and defensive pressure was also on show, with Jake King laying two bruising tackles on his young opponent Liam Anthony and veteran Adam Simpson, resulting in the ball spilling free on the half-forward flank and eventually leading to a Tom Hislop goal.
After an early goal to Edwards after an excellent smother by Hislop on Daniel Pratt’s relieving kick in the third term, the Tigers let North Melbourne back into the game.
The Kangaroos kicked five goals to one in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to just 16 points.
The last quarter was a see-saw affair, but Morton was the saviour, his late goal with 45 seconds remaining levelling the scores after Hale had given the Kangaroos the lead.
A holding free-kick paid against Hale to Silvester– after he took a mark in the forward line with 20 seconds remaining – was the last action for the day.
The Tigers will look to record their fourth win of the season against Essendon at the MCG next Sunday afternoon.
Richmond 4.5 10.6 11.9 12.13 (85)
North Melbourne 1.3 3.6 8.11 12.13 (85)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Nahas 2, Morton 2, Polo, Coughlan, Hislop, White, Edwards
North Melbourne: Harding 3, Harvey 2, Hale 2, Hansen, McIntosh, Greenwood, Jones, Swallow
BEST
Richmond: Newman, Tambling, Edwards, Morton, Tuck, Deledio, Coughlan
North Melbourne: Harvey, McIntosh, Harding, Power, Thompson, Swallow, Gibson
INJURIES
Richmond: Cousins (ill), Cotchin (ill), replaced in selected side by McMahon, Coughlan
North Melbourne: Hale (leg), Swallo (corked knee), Firrito (corked buttock)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Margetts, Sully
Official crowd: 30,604 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
