A Shai Bolton masterclass has taken Richmond to the top-eight after a 71-109 win over a disappointing Port Adelaide.
The win sees them two points ahead of St Kilda and comfortably clear on percentage as the season comes to a head with just two rounds remaining.
A highly entertaining first term saw both sides enjoy runs of momentum as a Shai Bolton goal helped Richmond to a nine-point lead at quarter time.
This continued into the second quarter as the Power fought hard in front of a loud home crowd to find themselves eight points down thanks to yet another buzzer-beater goal for Bolton.
The game opened up after half-time, as the Tigers kicked away impressively with seven goals to three in the third term, a 34-point lead that was ultimately too much to overcome for the Power.
Multiple Tigers had days out, headed by Bolton (four goals, 17 touches), sole captain on the night Toby Nankervis (29 disposals, 42 hit-outs), former captain Trent Cotchin (32 touches, six clearances), Tom Lynch (four goals, 16 disposals) and Dion Prestia (32 touches, 10 clearances) as the yellow and black put together a much-needed four-quarter effort emblematic of their premiership years.
Port would be buoyed by the performances of Zak Butters (28 touches, eight tackles), Ollie Wines (32 touches, six tackles), Dan Houston (24 touches, 497 meters-gained) and Miles Bergman (one goal, 21 disposals) in what was ultimately a down night for Ken Hinkley’s men.
The Tigers will be sweating on the health of Nick Vlaustin for the finals, as the 28-year-old went down with a rib injury in visible pain.
Port Adelaide faces Essendon at Marvel Stadium next week as the Tigers host Hawthorn at the MCG before Essendon in the final round and would be favorites for both encounters.
FULL SCORE
PortAdelaide: 3.1, 6.4, 9.6, 10.11 (71)
Richmond: 4.4, 7.6, 14.10, 16.13 (109)
GOALS
PortAdelaide: Finlayson 2, Dixon 2, Bergman, Rozee, Burgoyne, Butters, Duursma, Gray
Richmond: Bolton 4, Lynch 4, Cumberland 2, D Rioli 2, Ross, Pickett, Riewoldt
BEST
PortAdelaide: Z Butters, O Wines, D Houston, M Bergman, T Boak
Richmond: S Bolton, T Nankervis, D Prestia, T Lynch, T Cotchin, D Rioli
INJURIES
PortAdelaide: n/a
Richmond: Nick Vlaustin (ribs)
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