A five-goal third quarter from Sam Toner inspired a remarkable VFL comeback win for the Tigers, kicking 12 goals to four after half-time and romping to a 33-point win against the Saints.
Toner gave Richmond the perfect start, kicking a snap from the pocket but St Kilda responded well and began to control the air, forcing the Tigers into long and high kicks.
The Saints capitalised on their dominance with goals to Liam O’Connell, Hugh Boxshall and Dan Butler, taking a 16-point lead late in the first quarter. But crucially for the Tigers, Tom Burton kicked a goal against the grain, cutting the margin back to 10 points at quarter-time.
Richmond continued its momentum early in the second term as Lachlan Street kicked a great captain’s goal, but after locking the ball in its forward half, St Kilda went down the other end with Tyson Nagel kicking his first goal of the afternoon.
Billy Galimberti kicked one minutes later to stretch the margin out to 15 points followed by a goal to Bailey McKenzie, which gave the Saints a then game-high 19-point lead.
Richmond stayed resilient though, as a pinpoint pass by small forward Zane Peucker allowed Noah Roberts-Thomson to run into an open goal, as the two AFL-listed youngsters combined nicely.
The Tigers continued to press for the rest of the quarter but inaccuracy proved costly, kicking 4.9 in total and trailing by 12 points at the main break.
After the break it was St Kilda who drew first blood as McKenzie gave his team the perfect start to the quarter, kicking his second goal of the game and pushing the lead back out to 18 points.
Moments later Christian Algeri gave the Saints a four-goal advantage, roving the ball from a forward stoppage and kicking a snap on his left foot.
Returning vice-captain Joel Garner got one back for the Tigers with a neat set shot from 50 and kept Richmond within striking distance, before Dan Lowther kicked his first VFL goal as the Tigers began to roar.
Toner, playing deep forward, got in on the act and soon tore the game to shreds, kicking five third-quarter goals as he gave the Saints defenders all sorts of headaches.
A nine goal to three third term gave the Tigers a 22-point lead and huge amounts of momentum heading into the last quarter, and although St Kilda kicked the first goal of the final term, the Tigers had taken precious time off the clock with Joshua Clarke’s goal coming 15 minutes into the quarter.
The Saints were coming hard and taking the ball through the corridor, but the likes of Mutaz El Nour, Reuben Hanson and Nick Collier held up brilliantly for the Tigers.
Richmond held strong and put the icing on the cake with Liam George kicking two late goals and debutant Lowther also kicking his second, powering the Tigers to a 33-point win at RSEA Park, winning 16.12 (108) to 11.9 (75).
Richmond 2.4 4.9 13.10 16.12 (108)
St Kilda 4.2 7.3 10.6 11.9 (75)
Goalkickers: Toner 6, Burton 3, Lowther 2, George 2, Street, Roberts-Thomson, Garner
