A MATCH-saving mark by Shane Edwards in defence has helped Richmond hang on for a thrilling five-point win over a fast-finishing Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.

The Tigers 15.11 (101) defeated the Bombers 14.12 (96), giving Jade Rawlings his second win as coach and Richmond its fourth win of the season.

Essendon kicked the last three goals of the match, after trailing by 23 points at the 21-minute mark of the final term.

Goals to Courtenay Dempsey at the 21-minute mark, Brent Stanton (23) and Kyle Reimers (28) put the Dons within a goal. And when the ball rebounded from Richmond's attack – after a Daniel Jackson bomb from a centre clearance almost resulted in a goal – Essendon had one last hurrah.

But when 180cm Tiger Shane Edwards stood his ground in the back-half, the Tigers had roughly 10 seconds remaining. In the end, the Tigers had possession when the siren sounded.

It was capped off a memorable day for the Tigers as Jack Riewoldt kicked a career-best six goals and Ben Cousins played a blinder, racking up 31 disposals. Brett Deledio also got better and better as the match went on, finishing with 26 touches.

Entering the final term, Richmond led by 12 points, but was quickly out to a 23-point lead when Riewoldt opened the term with his sixth and impressive young tall Jayden Post landed his second goal of the day.

And when Mitch Morton kicked Richmond's last goal for the day at the 18-minute mark, the Tigers looked home – until the Dons made one last charge.

The loss puts Essendon's finals chances at risk, plus an injury concern to skipper Matthew Lloyd (foot) is a worry.

The Tigers also suffered a late scare when rookie defender Jarrod Silvester left the ground with a lower left leg injury. Chris Newman also limped off just before the final siren.

The match got under way without the opening bounce, after a free kick was awarded to Essendon. It came about after Tiger Daniel Jackson and Bomber Brent Stanton tangled on the wing, resulting in a free to Essendon from the centre square.

Stanton took the kick and found teammate Scott Lucas, who marked and kicked the first goal, just 30 seconds in.

Richmond opened its account via Riewoldt and when Jake King followed up with a fine running goal mid-way through the term, the Tigers hit the front for the first time. At quarter-time they led by three points.

The Tigers took control in the second term, booting five in a row to claim a 29-point lead at the 25-minute mark. It was an outstanding period for the Tigers, which included two excellent individual efforts to set up a couple of their majors.

The first was a Richard Tambling run that was reminiscent of former Tiger Michael Mitchell's goal of the year against the Sydney Swans at the SCG in 1990.

Tambling won the ball at half-back and had six bounces, but instead of kicking truly, he chipped a pass to Riewoldt, who was on a slight angle close to goal. The key forward then nailed his third.

Soon after, Robin Nahas managed to win the ball on the wing and break clear of Bomber speedster Andrew Lovett, before finding Deledio at half-forward. The reigning Jack Dyer Medalist converted.

But Richmond's fine work was undone somewhat when Essendon jagged two late goals, bringing the margin back to 16 points at half-time.

This led the experienced Cousins to address his teammates on the hallowed turf before they jogged off as a group.

Essendon hit back hard with five of the first six goals in the second half, regaining a six-point lead at the 21-minute mark of the third term.

Just as the Tigers looked set to be overrun by the Dons, they hit back with a hat-trick of goals in time-on to regain the lead. This included two from Riewoldt. 

Richmond took a 12-point buffer into the final stanza, before the brilliant last term.


Essendon        2.5 5.6 10.9 14.12 (96)
Richmond        3.2 8.4 12.9 15.11 (101)  

GOALS
Essendon: Lovett 2, Lucas 2, Reimers 2, Ryder 2, McVeigh, Winderlich, McPhee, Dyson, Dempsey, Stanton
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Post 2, Morton 2, King, White, Brown, Deledio, Jackson

BEST
Essendon: Welsh, Prismall, Ryder, Lovett, Stanton, Winderlich, Fletcher
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cousins, Cotchin, Nahas, Deledio, Jackson

INJURIES
Essendon: Lloyd (ankle)
Richmond: Silvester (leg), Newman (knee)

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Hendrie

Official crowd: 47,412 at the MCG


The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs.

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