Tiger Jack Riewoldt works into space against the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
WHEN Jack Riewoldt kicked his third goal midway through the last quarter, the Richmond of the past was surely heading for defeat.
Fast-forward to last night and Riewoldt's hat-trick merely put the finishing touches on another Tiger scoring spree at Etihad Stadium.
Just another reminder that these Tigers are no longer dependant on a bagful from Jumping Jack as they produced an admirable spread of 12 goalkickers in the 60 points whipping of the Western Bulldogs.
An even contribution sounds such a hackneyed phrase.
But it accurately portrayed Richmond's ethic, teamwork and vastly superior structures that overwhelmed the Dogs in the one-sided second half.
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Riewoldt these days is merely one forward target.
Yes, a potent one that occupies the opposition's best tall defender.
But he was the consummate team player in his sterling battle with Dog stalwart Dale Morris.
He had plenty of help and the midfielders several options streaming forward, like the often maligned Tyrone Vickery.
Vickery had endured Bronx cheers from Tiger supporters after grabbing a couple of marks early in the third quarter after a sedate first half.
But those same derisive detractors would have been yelling in raptures when the big Tiger hauled down another one, this time bravely running against the flight into a pack of players.
SuperCoach scores, stats
When Vickery slotted the goal from 30m midway through the term, it was a significant breakthrough for his hard-working teammates.
It was the first goal after a critical 11 minutes in a third quarter arm-wrestle and, not surprisingly, it signalled a Richmond onslaught.
When Vickery slotted another from almost the goalline after an unselfish handball from Bachar Houli and Reece Conca and sub Matt White added more, the Tigers had taken complete control with the five goal burst while limiting the Bulldogs to just two behinds.
You felt for Bulldog defender Jordan Roughead with Vickery's breakout quarter.
His blanketing job in the first half had largely contributed to the Dogs staying in the contest.
Roughead's woes generally reflected the Doggies' problems - there was nothing wrong with the workrate, but the finishing touches just weren't up to scratch.
It started out as if the contest would be a frenetic shootout with the footy zinging from end to end like a pinball.
But, in the manner of a top eight unit, the Tigers simply worked hard, bided their time and eventually cracked open the contest with that dominant third quarter.
The final term was highlight reel stuff.
Like ball magnet Daniel Jackson's entry for goal of the week with a curling snapshot as he was just about to hurtle over the boundary line beside the behind post after a handpass from Vickery.
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The crucial battles of the midfield minds and bodies was right on from the first bounce.
But they were cancelled out by Richmond's versatile and lethal forward set-up against the Bulldogs' that was based around eighth gamer Jake Stringer and wounded Liam Jones who was getting treatment from as early as halfway through the first quarter.
The Doggies were never going to let Brett Deledio roam free to set up plays as the uncompromising and disciplined Liam Picken trotted to his side for another shutdown role.
But Deledio still found it 25 times.
Trent Cotchin and Matthew Boyd had a good old fashioned duel where both regularly won the hard ball, the same with Jackson and Ryan Griffen in a quick-hands competition.
The Tiger's 22 points lead at half-time didn't truly reflect their edge in the first half.
Twice they hit the post during the wasteful 4.8 opening term.
And the inaccuracy, even from the normally dead-eye Riewoldt continued in the second quarter.
When Richmond banged on the first four goals of the second term, it seemed this was Tiger time again, like earlier in the season, as the lead ballooned to a dangerous 35 points.
Goals from Shaun Grigg, after an exhilarating three bounces run, Conca and Dustin Martin left them poised to take a stranglehold on the contest.
But the Bulldogs at least found a viable target with Stringer pulling them back with two late goals, the second after the half-time siren following a 50m penalty against Tiger Alex Rance from a late push after a mark.
While it provided the Dogs with hope by narrowing the deficit to a reachable margin, the reality was that the Tigers had control on all but the scoreboard going into the second half on the way to a second thumping that mirrored the 67 points triumph at the same venue 10 weeks ago.
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