Richmond recorded their third consecutive win and moved into the top four after beating North Melbourne by 54 points at Metricon Stadium on Saturday night.
The Tigers kicked the first six goals of the game and held the Kangaroos to a scoreless first term and goalless second half as they romped home to a comfortable victory.
The loss was North Melbourne's fifth in a row.
Mabior Chol, Dustin Martin and Jake Arts slotted two goals each for Richmond, the latter kicking his frst senior AFL goal early in the final term of his third game.
Shaun Higgins was best on ground for North Melbourne with 36 disposals while Trent Dumont also impressed with 25 touches and a goal.
Derek Eggmolesse-Smith led the disposal count for the Tigers across half-back in just his fourth game with 23 touches.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Talking Point: Ben Brown
The North Melbourne focal point and two-time Coleman Medal runner-up once again struggled, failing to add a major to his 2020 total of seven goals. 27-year old Brown has kicked 60+ goals in each of the last three seasons and has won the club’s goalkicking for the last four but looks completely off the pace so far this year. The Tasmanian native appears completely devoid of confidence and missed three shots that you’d pencil him in to convert in previous years.
Cam Zurhaar currently leads the major count for the Roos with eight despite not taking part in the clash at Metricon Stadium.
.@SamHargreaves99: "What's going wrong with Ben Brown?"
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) July 18, 2020
Nick Dal Santo: "How long have you got?"#AFLTigersNorth
The Medical Room:
North’s Jack Ziebell injured his hamstring early in the first quarter without touching the footy and did not return to the ground. The club skipper suffered a similar injury early in the Roos’ match against Hawthorn and has been plagued by injury so far in 2020, having also suffered a medial ligament strain in round one.
Tiger Josh Caddy limped from the ground in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and also didn’t return.
Jy Simpkin rolled his ankle in the first quarter and later reappeared with strapping before going down to the rooms in the second term.
North Melbourne youngster Kyron Hayden was stretchered from the ground following a suspected concussion in a third quarter marking contest.
One of the bravest acts you will ever see.
— 7AFL (@7AFL) July 18, 2020
Hope Kyron Hayden is okay 🙏#AFLTigersNorth pic.twitter.com/A0mlI2rI4l
What’s next?
Richmond travel to Giants Stadium to take on Greater Western Sydney in a Grand Final rematch on Friday night while North Melbourne “host” Carlton at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.
FULL SCORE
Richmond: 4.3, 6.5, 9.7, 11.11 (77)
North Melbourne: 0.0, 2.3, 2.6, 2.11 (23)
BEST
Richmond: Eggmolesse-Smith, Short, Pickett, Grimes
North Melbourne: Higgins, Dumont, Polec, Hall
GOALS
Richmond: Aarts 2, Chol 2, Martin 2, Castagna, Lynch, Pickett, Riewoldt, Rioli
North Melbourne: Dumont, Walker
REPORTS
Richmond: Dylan Grimes (striking)
North Melbourne: nil
INJURIES
Richmond: Caddy (hamstring)
North Melbourne: Zurhaar (calf) replaced in selected side by McKay, Ziebell (hamstring), Hayden (concussion)