IT WASN'T quite vintage Richmond, but it was vintage 'Dusty'.
Winding back the clock with a performance reminiscent of his 2017 best, Dustin Martin kept Richmond's season on an upwards trajectory with a stellar display against Hawthorn.
Martin was dominant forward and destructive through the midfield, winning 37 disposals, 10 clearances and kicking two important goals as the Tigers saw off a wasteful Hawks outfit to run out 36-point winners on Sunday afternoon.
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In doing so, its 14.11 (95) to 8.11 (59) win entrenched Richmond inside the AFL's top eight and put two games worth of breathing space between itself and the chasing pack.
In a depleted midfield still missing captain Trent Cotchin through injury, Martin's scintillating return to form was pivotal as the Tigers claimed a fifth victory from their last six games.
Supported capably by Dion Prestia (29 disposals) through the middle and forward pairing Tom Lynch (three goals, six marks) and Josh Caddy (three goals, 17 disposals) inside 50, Martin took the match by the scruff of its neck with his trademark ferocity at the contest.
Together with the run and link-up play of Bachar Houli (35 disposals, nine marks) out of defence, Richmond had too much class for a Hawthorn outfit plagued by injury.
Jaeger O'Meara (29 disposals, seven clearances) and Luke Breust (three goals) were serviceable, but Hawthorn proved too frustrating and wasteful throughout the match.
The Hawks had five scoring shots by the time the Tigers registered their first. The only issue was that Alastair Clarkson's side had just one goal – and a slender lead – to show for it.
Breust would miss two relatively routine shots for goal, while the normally reliable Jack Gunston, O'Meara and Liam Shiels also put good opportunities wide of the target.
The result was an opening term in which the momentum shifted rapidly, as Martin's goal on the stroke of quarter time handed the Tigers the advantage at the first change.
The pattern of the game was set thereafter. More makeable Hawthorn shots were sent astray, as Richmond pounced on such good fortune at the other end of the field.
Even the conclusion to the second quarter was the same. Another strong Martin mark, another strong Martin goal, with his finish on the siren putting the Tigers 16 points ahead.
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Despite losing in-form ruckman Ben McEvoy to a nasty leg injury and developing forward Mitchell Lewis to concussion, Hawthorn mounted a brave comeback after half time.
Back-to-back Breust goals reduced the deficit to just four points, before Richmond came again. As quickly as their lead was slashed, it was rebuilt – and then extended, as the Tigers kicked five of the last six goals in the third term to virtually kill the match as a contest.
Try as they might to again force their way back into the match throughout the last quarter, Hawthorn couldn't overcome its yips in front of goal and ultimately fell some way short.
MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: Having endured a shocking run of luck on the injury front in recent weeks, the Tigers managed to escape relatively unscathed from Sunday's clash.
NEXT UP
Richmond returns to the MCG to face Essendon in its annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash on Saturday night.
RICHMOND 3.2 6.6 11.7 14.11 (95)
HAWTHORN 2.5 3.8 6.9 8.11 (59)
GOALS
Richmond: Caddy 3, Lynch 3, Martin 2, Higgins, Castagna, McIntosh, Baker, Balta, Vlastuin
Hawthorn: Breust 3, Scully 2, Lewis, Gunston, Moore
BEST
Richmond: Martin, Houli, Ellis, Prestia, Vlastuin, Balta
Hawthorn: Ceglar, O'Meara, Worpel, Henderson, Breust, Impey
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Hawthorn: Frawley (hamstring tightness) replaced in selection side by Glass, McEvoy (right ankle), Lewis (concussion), Breust (left leg)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: O'Gorman, Stephens, Ryan
Official crowd: 64,936 at the MCG
