In a tough contest, Richmond’s VFL side held strong to run out comfortable 22-point winners against Essendon in the annual Dreamtime game.

The Tigers started well with quick goals to small forwards Liam George and Jasper Alger in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Richmond had all the play against the wind in the first stanza of the game before Essendon turned the tide with goals to Alwyn Davey Jnr and Luamon Lual nearing the end of the first quarter, seeing the Tigers take just a two-point lead into quarter time.

Early in the second quarter, midfielder Tyler Sonsie launched a bomb from outside 50 to ignite the Tiger Army, but Xavier O’Neill responded minutes later for the Bombers, as the arm-wrestle continued. A wholesome moment ensued as star veteran Dion Prestia, in his first game of the season, got on the end of some fast ball movement to get on the scoreboard.

With a strong breeze, the Tigers were wasteful for the next 10 minutes, before Alger’s second goal of the game got them going. Minutes later forward Mykelti Lefau kicked truly from a set shot to help Richmond establish a 22-point lead at half-time.

Despite Essendon kicking to the scoring end, the Tigers were able to possess the ball and control the game coming out of half-time. But it was the Bombers who found the big sticks through Oskar Smartt to remain within touching distance.

After just one goal in the first 25 minutes of the quarter, James Trezise produced a crucial major to give the Tigers some much-needed breathing room. It gave them a 21-point lead with one quarter to play.

Richmond started the last quarter strongly with Lachlan Wilson and Liam Fawcett kicking early goals to push the Tigers' lead out to beyond five goals. When Lefau kicked his second goal, courtesy of a unique soccer goal, the game was all but over.

Essendon kicked late consolation goals through Smartt, who kicked his second and third goal late in the term, but it was the Tigers' night as they secured a 22-point victory to move into the VFL’s top eight teams.

Sonsie looked a class above once again, finishing the game with 35 disposals, seven tackles and a goal. Jacob Blight won the Sir Doug Nicholls Award for best on ground, as he had 25 disposals, 19 kicks, 11 intercept possessions, and nine marks.

Prestia finished with 20 disposals in a successful return, while Tylar Young also came back from an ACL injury and had 11 disposals.

Richmond     2.4    6.8    7.11    10.14    (74)
Essendon    2.2    3.4    4.8    7.10    (52)

Goals: Lefau 2, Alger 2, Wilson, Trezise, Sonsie, Prestia, George, Fawcett