The reigning champs have reminded the pack who holds still the title, with Richmond dominating Geelong to put themselves into top four contention.
The Tigers led from start to finish with inaccurate goal kicking leading to a scoreboard that favoured the Cats in the 26-point win.
Ultimately, Jack Riewoldt kicking four goals up one end and Dylan Grimes controlling the air up the other proved the difference in the game.
Here’s everything you need to know!
The Talking Point: The Tigers clamp Tom Hawkins
Richmond locked the ball in their forward half for the vast majority of the game, but even when Geelong got it forward the Tigers had a clear plan for the man leading the Coleman Medal.
Noah Balta had the Tom Hawkins match-up and held his own in a few one-on-one situations, but the returning Dylan Grimes was mighty with his intercept work, cutting off forward thrusts and taking contested marks.
Grimes and Nick Vlastuin broke off from their own opponents and did everything in their power to make sure Hawkins had no space to work with and couldn’t fly unopposed in contests.
In the fourth quarter, the Cats moved Mark Blicavs into the ruck, Esava Ratugolea deep and Tom Hawkins further up the ground. This caused a few headaches for the Richmond defence, with both key forwards hitting the scoreboard.
It will be interesting to see if Chris Scott turns to this again come finals, if these teams meet again.
The Medical Room: Tigers lose Lynch and Soldo
The big win game at a cost for Richmond, with star forward Tom Lynch and ruckman Ivan Soldo suffering injuries. Soldo was helped from the ground before half-time with a knee injury, while Lynch was seen with ice on his hamstring in the third term.
For Lynch, a hamstring injury this close to finals likely puts him in doubt for the first week, despite the pre-finals bye. Even with the boost of a returning Shane Edwards and, at a stretch, Dion Prestia to come, the Tigers will be worried about their forward setup without one of their twin towers.
Mabior Chol looms as the likely replacement for both Lynch and Soldo, able to play key forward and spell Toby Nankervis in the ruck.
David Astbury is set to return next week, providing relief in defence.
FULL SCORE
Geelong: 0.3, 1.4, 1.5, 4.7. (31)
Richmond: 2.5, 3.5, 5.13, 7.15. (57)
GOALS
Geelong: Ratugolea 2, Hawkins, Close
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Castagna, Lynch, Rioli
BEST
Geelong: Stewart, Parfitt, Guthrie, O’Connor, Menegola
Richmond: Grimes, Riewoldt, Short, Vlastuin, Balta, Cotchin
Reports: Nil
Injuries
Geelong: Nil
Richmond: Soldo (knee), Lynch (hamstring)