Richmond's VFL team kept its top eight hopes alive with a dogged two-point win over a determined North Melbourne outfit at Arden St Oval.
The Tigers had a hot start to the opening quarter, kicking the first four goals of the game to take a 24- point lead at the first break, but the Kangaroos would return serve in the second term with three of their own while holding Richmond scoreless.
The Tigers seemed to have opened the game up midway through the term as they reasserted their control on the game, but North fought back to trail by just 14 points heading into the last quarter.
Richmond captain Lachlan Street kicked the Tigers sole goal of the final quarter to put them 20 points up which proved enough to hold off the Kangaroos. North launched a spirited comeback kicking the final three goals of the game, creating a tense last few minutes as Richmond held on.
Of the AFL-listed players, Riley Collier-Dawkins put his hand up for a recall with a hard earned 25 touches. After being dropped from the AFL team, Jason Castagna notched a season high 24 touches, which included four tackles as he played higher up the ground than a traditional small forward role.
Street played a strong captain's game collecting 27 disposals, kicking three goals, 14 kicks, nine tackles and 10 hitouts.
Of the AFL listed players, Riley Collier-Dawkins put his hand up for a recall with a hard earned 25 touches. After being dropped from the AFL team, Jason Castagna notched a season high 24 touches, which included four tackles
The Tigers ran out winners 8.10.58 to 8.8.56 and sit in 10th place on the VFL ladder, only a percentage from fifth.
RICHMOND IN VAFA WIN
In the VAFA, Richmond Centrals Football Club recorded its fifth win of the season in Division Three, with a 21.14.140 to 10.6.66 victory over Westbourne Grammarians in a game that strangely see-sawed despite the 74-point margin.
A commanding first half saw the Centrals lead by 58 points, but the Grammarians turned the tables in the third quarter to give them a scare with a seven-goal-to-two term to keep the margin at a winnable 29 points at the final break.
Any chance of a miracle comeback was quickly snuffed out early on in the fourth quarter as Richmond put the foot down and ran riot with a powerful last quarter, somewhat akin to the side's opening half performance.
For the Centrals, Jack Bilson kicked five goals while Damien Holland and Dane Roy joined in with three each.
The win gave Richmond a small pulse in the race for finals footy. The Centrals moved up to sixth but remain one game and a percentage outside the top four. Hawthorn and Parkside who both recorded wins.
In Division One, the Kew Bears senior team went down to PEGS, 7.11.53 to 13.12.90 in a top of the table clash. It was the Bears first loss since round three, also against PEGS.
An inaccurate first half saw the Bears trail at half time but they fought back in the third quarter to trim the deficit to just 12 points at three-quarter time.
However, PEGS blew the game open in the last quarter to notch a 37-point win and claimed top spot.
Forward Michael Hannan continued his consistent season with another three goals, taking his tally to 30 this year.
The Bears are now second on the ladder following the defeat with an 11-2 record.
Kew's Reserves also suffered their first loss of the season after falling short to PEGS by 15 points, 9.5.59 to 11.8.74, despite a five-goal-to-two final quarter. In the William Bucks Premier Women's Division, Kew kept its hold on top spot with a 5.9.39 to 0.1.1 victory over Caulfield Grammarians.
