Melbourne has managed to bounce back from their early-season difficulties, triumphing over Richmond with a score of 12.11 (83) to 9.9 (63), marking their second consecutive victory.
The match was largely overshadowed by a heartfelt pre-game tribute to the Anzacs, a stirring ceremony now a key feature on the AFL calendar as Anzac Day approaches.
The Dees made a fast start, notching up the first three goals of the match, but Richmond showed resilience and levelled the scores by half-time.
Christian Petracca had a standout performance against the Tigers Getty
Richmond featured six players with fewer than 15 games of experience, highlighting the club’s current trajectory.
Melbourne asserted their dominance in the third quarter, driven by star midfielder Clayton Oliver, who amassed 13 disposals and secured five clearances during that period alone.
North Melbourne premiership defender David King lauded the Demons for their second-half resurgence.
“They’ve really hit their stride. They struggled in the first half, but have put Richmond under pressure they couldn’t withstand,” King remarked on Fox Footy.
“In the first half, Richmond was genuinely in the contest, but the Dees’ quality has shone through in the end.”
Emotional scenes before the match AFL Photos via Getty Images
Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt echoed similar sentiments, noting, “this is a team that can climb the ladder.”
The final quarter lacked intensity as the game’s outcome seemed assured, although the Tigers managed to score four late goals to trim the margin to just 20 points.
Melbourne’s captain, Max Gawn, was awarded the Frank Hughes Medal for being the best player on the field, accumulating 34 hitouts, 25 disposals, and nine marks.
Tigers veteran Tom Lynch performed admirably, contributing with 3.3 and seven marks, while Christian Petracca shone brightly with 28 disposals and two goals.
Looking ahead, Melbourne has a promising opportunity to extend their winning streak when they face West Coast in Perth during round eight.
In contrast, Richmond faces a challenging confrontation against Hawthorn at the MCG.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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