Richmond has continued their Dreamtime at the 'G dominance over Essendon with an eighth straight win in the fixture.
Despite an improved performance from the Bombers, who laid 59 tackles as opposed to 30 last week, they fell short of the clinical Tigers who have now won four matches in a row.
Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes seemed to catch Dons youngster Ben Hobbs holding the ball, but the tackle was instead paid as a sling, causing perhaps the loudest roar of the first half from outraged Richmond fans.
Thoughts on this dangerous tackle? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/pFy3bLPlSN
— 7AFL (@7AFL) May 21, 2022
IThat incident started several spot-fires as the two sides lost no love on the big stage that is Dreamtime.
Former St Kilda midfielder Nick Dal Santo explained the tensions on AFL Nation and said the feeling in the game was noticeable, albeit a dull game otherwise.
“There is a lot of spice in this game, there hasn’t been much in the actual footy but there's plenty of feeling in the game,” he said.
The Bombers struggled to keep pace in the first half as the rampant Tigers rode the crowd to take a 26-point lead into the main break.
Essendon ruckman Nick Bryan (one goal, 10 disposals) slotted his first career goal in the third term to reduce the margin to just 15 points, and was met fiercly by opposing ruckman Toby Nankervis.
But it was soon answered by a superb Shai Bolton goal, weaving his way through the pack, and pumping it through to bring the crowd to their feet.
The heavily criticised Dons showed fight in the third term to keep the game in the balance, however, the Tigers repeatedly found a way to respond and keep them at arm’s length.
The inefficiency going forward was telling for Essendon as they recorded just 26.5 per cent compared to the Tigers’ 49.1 per cent.
Injury-plagued Kane Lambert was subbed out of the game late in the third quarter with hip soreness and was replaced by Jake Aarts.
The carnage continued as Matt Guelfi was replaced for the match in the last term by Tex Wanganeen.
Dion Prestia (36 disposals, five marks) and Liam Baker (30 disposals, six tackles) were impressive for the eventual victors and were supported well by Jack Riewoldt (four goals, 10 marks) Shai Bolton (two goals, 16 disposals) and Maurice Rioli (two goals, 10 disposals).
Coleman medal leader Tom Lynch had an inaccurate day at the office, kicking four behinds before being subbed out of the game with a hamstring injury.
Darcy Parish collected 43 disposals in a typically prolific display, while skipper Dyson Heppell (23 disposals, six tackles), Mason Redman (29 disposals, 10 marks) and Zach Merrett (33 disposals, four marks) held up well for the Dons.
The Tigers travel to Sydney to face the Swans in what shapes as one of the games of the round, while the Bombers venture to Adelaide against the Power.
FULL SCORE
Richmond: 2.3, 7.5, 9.12, 11.14 (80)
Essendon: 1.2, 3.3, 6.3, 7.6 (48)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, M Rioli 2, Bolton 2, Edwards, Castagna, Soldo
Essendon: Hobbs 2, Bryan, Francis, Perkins, Shiel, Waterman
BEST
Richmond: J Short, J Riewoldt, D Prestia, L Baker, D Rioli
Essendon: D Parish, D Heppell, M Redman, Z Merrett
INJURIES
Richmond: Kane Lambert (hip soreness), Tom Lynch (Hamstring)
Essendon: Matt Guelfi