After a dream start for the travelling Tigers, the young side couldn't hold on, going down by three points late in the fourth quarter to a gutsy GWS Giants outfit. 

Richmond managed to pile on six goals in the opening term, charging forward to a 28-point quarter-time lead over the Giants, who managed just two majors.

The early surge was led by returning veteran Dion Prestia, who snapped a crucial goal in the opening minutes to announce his comeback to the big time perfectly. It added to a strong quarter through the middle, where he found the ball for 11 disposals.

Prestia was critical to the Tigers breaking the game open in his first match of the season as their on-ball brigade controlled the stoppages with 16-6 clearances just in the opening term. 

Goals followed suit from Jonty Faull, Steely Green, Tom Lynch and Tim Taranto (2), who kicked an energy-booster after the siren.

While it took a while to get into the groove in the second term, it was fitting that Jacob Hopper would break the goal dry spell with just over five minutes remaining before halftime.

Naturally, an experienced Giants side fought back in the second quarter, reducing their deficit to 26-points at the main break.

To the half-time siren, Hopper had already notched up 17 disposals, with Prestia nabbing 16 touches.

The switch was flicked back on in the third term, with a stellar dribble goal from Tyler Sonsie on return from a stint in the VFL, before Green added his second major to the tally.

Strong defence, led by veterans Nick Vlastuin and Nathan Broad, helped keep a surging Giants side at bay heading into the final break, retaining a 28-point lead that mirrored quarter time.

However, the young Tiger outfit wasn't able to defend against a gutsy run from the Giants in the fourth quarter, where they piled on five unanswered goals to take home the three-point win. 

The side can take positives from the return of Prestia, who finished with 31 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, while Hopper (29, 13, one) and Taranto (23, five, two) also set the tone.

The Tigers' trio combined for 19 clearances to the last change while the Giants as a team could only gather 17 to the same point before the contest was flipped on its head in the final term.

Tigers spearhead Lynch booted two majors as Giants defender Sam Taylor lowered his colours on a rare off day, while Green also finished with a pair of goals as the young visitors impressed until overrun. 

Triple-premiership Tiger turns back the clock
Prestia has suffered from a long list of injuries in recent times and was restricted to only 13 matches last year before playing his first game of this season in the clash with the Giants. The 32-year-old showed few signs of an Achilles injury that has kept him on the sidelines as he lined up at the opening centre bounce and soon turned back the clock with a classy right-foot snap that sailed through for a goal. The three-time premiership on-baller finished with 31 disposals and seven clearances as the young Tigers proved that their rebuild is in safe hands with just enough experience still running through the side. 

GWS   2.1   4.3   7.6   12.8 (80)
RICHMOND   6.5   7.11   10.16   10.17 (77)  

GOALS
GWS: Brown 3, Riccardi 2, Cadman 2, Green, Angove, Greene, Briggs, McMullin
Richmond: Taranto 2, Green 2, Lynch 2, Prestia, Faull, Hopper, Sonsie

BEST 
GWS: Ash, Green, Brown, Whitfield, Jones, Kelly
Richmond: Hopper, Taranto, Prestia, Nankervis, Banks

INJURIES 
GWS: Ward (knee)
Richmond: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
GWS: Toby McMullin (replaced Callan Ward in the first quarter)
Richmond: Kamdyn McIntosh (replaced Luke Trainor in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Engie Stadium