Richmond led from start to finish to comfortably beat Southport at Kinetic Stadium on Saturday, with the win set up by a bag of five goals to young gun Jasper Alger.

It was a manic start to the game as both sides cracked in and gave each other no space on the outside, before the Tigers drew first blood with a brilliant finish by Sam Toner from 45 metres out on the boundary.

Southport got the immediate response, though, as Sam Day marked and goaled from just 15 metres out, before Liam George and Alger both kicked their first majors of the day with classy finishes on the run.

The Sharks then started to turn the screws and got on top in the middle of the ground, with repeat inside-50s eventually leading to a goal from Max Pescud, bringing the margin back to only two points.

Southport soon took the lead, nearing quarter-time with a goal to Taine Dawson, but Liam Fawcett made sure that Richmond would take the momentum and lead into the first break, finishing off a brilliant coast-to-coast play, giving the Tigers a two-point lead at quarter-time.

Richmond picked up from where it left off to start the second term, led by Alger, who kicked crafty back-to-back goals, his second and third of the match to that point.

After dominating through the middle of the ground, getting breakaway clearances from the centre, Harry Scott finished off with a brilliant snap to give the Tigers a game-high 19-point lead.

While Southport threw everything at Richmond, a second goal to Toner on the stroke of half-time meant the Tigers led by 22 points at the main break.

Alger gave Richmond the perfect start after the break, marking and goaling for his fourth before Zane Peucker bobbed up inside the forward line, getting a high free kick and snapping true to extend the lead out to 35 points.

Alger roved the pack brilliantly minutes later and strolled into an open goal for his fifth, before Pescud kicked his second, breaking a run of four straight Tiger goals.

Tom Burton kicked a wonderful goal moments later before Sam Lowson gave the Sharks the reply, with Richmond taking a handy 36-point lead into three-quarter time.

Southport’s Finn Hay got the first goal of the last quarter to bring the margin back to 30 points, but Fawcett stretched the margin back out, taking a towering grab and kicking his second goal of the day.

The Sharks had repeated inside-50s and most of the play in the fourth quarter, but the big sticks alluded them, as the time ticked away before Toner kicked his third and the sealer to give the Tigers a 39-point lead.

Eventually, Richmond ran out 40-point winners, kicking its season off in the perfect fashion with a 14.16 (100) to 7.18 (60) win.

Richmond   4.2   8.6   12.14   14.16 (100)

Southport   3.6   4.8   6.14   7.18 (60)

Goals: Alger 5, Toner 3, Fawcett 2, George, Scott, Peucker, Burton