Thursday night footy returned with a bang as Richmond withstood a second-half Port Adelaide fightback to post an important 12-point win and haul themselves back into the top eight.
Connor Rozee’s stunning goal hauled the Power to within three points of Richmond with less than five minutes to go, but it was Liam Baker’s major from a stoppage which proved the defining moment of the night in co-captain Dylan Grimes' 200th game.
Controversy unfolded in the final term as Tom Jonas and Zak Butters collided head-on with each other, which left the latter bloodied and both battered during the final term.
AFL Nation expert Josh Jenkins questioned how both Jonas and Butters were allowed to return to the field moments later without taking a concussion test, which would have all but ruled them out for the remainder of the game.
“This could be game deciding because they’ve used their sub (because of Trent Dumont’s calf injury),” he said.
“They both look like they probably need to take a concussion test based on how they went off, I would suggest Port Adelaide (could) be two down for the remainder of the game.”
“(Tom) Jonas looks ready to come on which is somewhat stunning and (Zak) Butters is strapped up and ready to come on which is startling.
"To me the vision looked like it'd be enough for them to need a concussion test, but clearly not."
Just 21,757 turned up to the first Thursday night game since April, which is the lowest crowd for a Richmond MCG home game (outside of COVID-affected 2020 and 2021) since 2010.
Richmond flew out the blocks, preying on Port Adelaide’s early errors to kick five goals to two in the opening term.
Debutant Judson Clarke had a start to his career that was barely believable, kicking two goals with his first two kicks in a hugely impressive opening to his career – a moment which sent his family and friends watching on in the stands into raptures.
The Tigers kicked six goals in a row after the Power booted the first two of the game, before fighting back just before half-time to stay within eight points of the lead at the main change.
The big games keep on coming for Richmond following Thursday night's victory, who take on Carlton in their second Thursday night meeting of the season following their opening-round clash.
Port Adelaide faces an equally stern test in Round 13 when they host the Swans, who are coming off an upset win against Melbourne last Saturday night.
FULL SCORE
Richmond: 5.2, 6.4, 8.5, 11.11 (77)
Port Adelaide: 2.1, 5.2, 8.4, 10.5 (65)
GOALS
Richmond: Clarke 2, Martin 2, Baker, Riewoldt, Balta, Gibcus, Graham, McIntosh, Rioli
Port Adelaide: Marshall 3, Amon, Finlayson, Powell-Pepper, Dixon, Farrell, Rozee, Wines
BEST
Richmond: Vlastuin, Prestia, Baker, Cotchin, Nankervis, Graham
Port Adelaide: Marshall, Burton, Amon, Houston, Wines, Boak
INJURIES
Richmond: n/a
Port Adelaide: Trent Dumont (calf), replaced by Martin Fredrick.
Crowd: 21,757 at the MCG