DUSTIN Martin has produced his best performance of the AFL season to inspire Richmond to a thrilling four-point win over Greater Western Sydney.
The Tigers trailed by 28 points midway through the third quarter but stormed home to register an important 13.9 (87) to 12.11 (83) victory on Saturday night.
Only 18,798 fans were on hand at Marvel Stadium after Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale vented his frustration about the club being forced to play a home game away from the MCG.
But the faithful who turned up were rewarded with a classic encounter as Martin was awarded a controversial late goal on review and Daniel Rioli kicked what proved to be the winning goal a week after he was involved in a nightclub scuffle.
Rioli had just four kicks for the night but pounced on a loose ball and snapped truly in the dying stages.
Minutes earlier, Martin was judged to have got his toe to the ball on the goal line and cannoned into the goal umpire, who had to be replaced because of a sore shoulder.
Tim Taranto had the chance to snatch a dramatic victory for the Giants but his dribble kick from close range was blocked by a diving Dylan Grimes on the goal line.
Martin finished with four goals from 28 disposals as a host of unheralded teammates stepped up in the midfield.
Liam Baker, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Jack Graham were important contributors as regular defender Nick Vlastuin helped plug a hole in an injury-hit midfield and Toby Nankervis led the way in the ruck.
GWS recruit Jesse Hogan kicked four goals – all of them in the second quarter – as Jacob Hopper, Josh Kelly, Callan Ward and Tom Green helped the Giants get on top in the middle early.
Inexperienced Giants defenders Sam Taylor and Jack Buckley kept Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt quiet for most of the night.
Hogan kicked three goals in a five-minute burst early in the second term to fire the Giants to a 27-point lead before halftime and was involved in a scuffle with Nathan Broad behind play that earned him the ire of Tigers fans.
Martin took it upon himself to drag Richmond back into it and kicked the next two goals before Hogan took another strong mark and booted his fourth major from the goal square after a 50m penalty against Nankervis.
Again it was Martin who sparked a fightback late in the third quarter as he kicked the first of four quick goals that cut the margin back to three points at the final change.
In the end, it was the Tigers’ famed pressure and surge game that got them over the line in a frantic finish.
Richmond faces another tough task when they take on Brisbane at the Gabba on Friday night, while GWS host West Coast on Sunday.
(C) AAP 2021
RICHMOND 3.0 6.2 10.5 13.9 (87)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 4.3 9.5 10.8 12.11 (83)
Goals: Richmond: D Martin 4 J Aarts 2 R Collier-Dawkins 2 D Rioli J Castagna J Riewoldt T Lynch T Nankervis. Greater Western Sydney: J Hogan 4 C Ward D Lloyd I Hill J Hopper J Kelly T Green T Greene X O’Halloran.
Umpires: Brendan Hosking, Nicholas Foot, Curtis Deboy.
Venue: Marvel Stadium.
