Tigers compound Dons' misery

Richmond sits just half a game outside the top eight after crushing a disappointing Essendon by 38 points at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Tigers set up a match winning lead in the opening term when they held Essendon goalless, before eventually running out 16.14 (110) to 10.12 (72) victors.

Trailing by 50 points at half-time it seemed like Essendon was on its way to a fourth consecutive 10-goal loss, but the Bombers lifted after the break, giving its supporters some hope for the remainder of the season.

Nathan Brown continued his strong start to the season with another solid showing in front of goals, but Richmond had plenty of team-mates that helped him out.

Youngster Shane Edwards matched Brown's three-goal haul, Kayne Pettifer impressed in his first senior game since Round 3, while Matthew Richardson finished the game with 19 possessions, 14 marks and two goals.

It wasn't just up forward that Richmond had winners, with Nathan Foley collecting a game-high 32 disposals in a best on ground performance, while Brett Deledio showed his class throughout.

While Richmond had winners all over the ground, it was hard to find any Essendon player that gave a good performance for all four quarters.

David Hille, Mark McVeigh, Matthew Lloyd and Brett Stanton battled away valiantly all night, but none of the Bombers younger brigade stepped up to help.

With Troy Simmonds on top in the ruck and Foley dominating the clearances, it didn't take long for Richmond to assert its advantage.

Brown and Pettifer each converted goals in the opening term as the Tigers opened up a 28-point lead at the first break and looked to be cruising.

Essendon was making countless mistakes all over the ground and didn't register its first goal of the contest until the 12 minute mark of the second term when Matthew Lloyd kicked truly from 40 metres out.

A late goal from McVeigh was about the only other piece of play Essendon supporters had to cheer in the opening half as Richmond forced the Bombers into some sloppy errors to take a 50-point lead into half-time.

Two goals from Lloyd and one each to Jay Neagle and Angus Monfries brought Essendon back into the contest, but Brown's second of the night late in the third term ensured Richmond headed into the final break with a 26-point advantage.

Any chance Essendon had of pulling off a remarkable victory was extinguished when Kyle Reimers missed a simple opportunity to bring his side within 20 points early in the final quarter and Richmond made him pay as Edwards added his third and Richardson his second to seal the game.

ESSENDON: 0.5, 2.6, 8.8, 10.12 (72)
RICHMOND: 5.3, 10.8, 12.10, 16.14 (110)

GOALS: ESSENDON: Lloyd 4, Monfries, Hille, Stanton, McVeigh, Neagle, Nash
RICHMOND: Brown 3, Edwards 3, Pettifer 2, Richardson 2, Hyde, White, Johnson, Foley, Pattison, Deledio
BEST: ESSENDON: Lloyd, McVeigh, Hille, Stanton, Nash
RICHMOND: Foley, Brown, Deledio, Pettifer, Simmonds, Edwards
INJURIES: ESSENDON: TBC
RICHMOND: TBC
REPORTS: TBC
CHANGES: Jay Nash replaced Ricky Dyson in Essendon's selected side. Kayne Pettifer replaced Graham Polak in Richmond's selected side.
UMPIRES: Donlon, Vozzo, Ryan
CROWD: 60,333 at MCG

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. Nathan Foley (Richmond)
2. Nathan Brown (Richmond)
1. Brett Deledio (Richmond)