Reece Conca booted three goals to help the Tigers secure victory. Picture: Michael Klein Source: Michael Klein / HeraldSun
HERE is the good news - Richmond locked in that long-awaited finals berth in which its fans have waited so desperately for more than a decade.
Now, the far more sobering news. The Tigers missed a real chance to make a statement to the rest of the AFL competition that it means to do some serious damage in September.
And it showed that it still has plenty of work to do ahead of the finals in just under a month's time.
It was one of those sort of afternoons at the MCG when Damien Hardwick's team secured its lucky 13th win of the season – that magical figure which all but guarantees the club's first finals appearance since 2001 – yet simply could not put the foot at the throat of the Lions when it looked likely.
The Tigers were very good at times, moderate at others, and downright vulnerable at different stages.
The first half showed that their midfield runs almost as deep as any in the premiership race, their defence is as resolute as it has been for almost a generation and that its forward line is less reliant on Jack Riewoldt than it has been in the past.
The second half showed cracks in all areas that would have seen Hardwick happy to put the four premiership points in the bank, but clearly frustrated that it could not have been achieved with greater certainty.
After an outstanding first term that yielded six goals to one and a 29-point ascendancy, it looked like it would be a procession for the Tigers. That received even more validation in the second term as the home side dominated the stats sheet as they went to a game-high lead of 46 points later in that term.
A percentage-booster looked to be in the offing.
That never happened, and the fact that it didn't will give Hardwick plenty of ammunition leading into Saturday's big clash with Carlton.
Admittedly, teams that have all but locked in finals appearances can sometimes have flat moments against sides that they know they have their measure against.
Yet Richmond was always flirting with danger against a side that has almost made an art form of resurrecting hopeless situations against good teams.
The Tigers failed to kick a goal in the third term, as the Lions wrestled their way back in the contest, winning the ball out of the middle with almost as much regularity as their opponents had in the first half.
The difference was 26 points at the last change as Brisbane threatened to cause yet another final term upset, when Pearce Hanley brought his team to within 16 points at the 20-minute-mark.
Six minutes and 26 seconds remained on the clock as Richmond nervously clung onto the match, making more than a few mistakes in the process.
Finally, it was Riewoldt, who iced a game that should have been secured a hell of a lot earlier, when he nailed a left foot angle goal five minutes later, to the relief of the Richmond faithful, and quite probably, his teammates.
The final margin was 23 points, and that was all that mattered in the final analysis.
Trent Cotchin was a strong contributor again, Daniel Jackson continued his fine season, Steven Morris and Bachar Houli were strong in defence, and Nathan Foley gave plenty of drive.
For the Lions, Tom Rockliff played a bit role in getting his team back into the contest, while Hanley was solid, Matt Maguire had an intriguing duel with Riewoldt, and Sam Mayes slotted through three goals.
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