RICHMOND looks destined for a top-four finish and a double September chance after a 29-point win at the MCG on Sunday that all but ended Hawthorn's late finals surge.

The Tigers passed another significant test on their way to their fourth straight win, producing one of the most even performances of their season against the in-form Hawks to win 13.15 (93) to 9.10 (64) and move clear in third spot.

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The win sets up a mouthwatering top-four showdown against Geelong next Saturday, which could see the Tigers – who have won five of their past six – all but cement their first double chance since 2001.

Hawthorn, meanwhile, looks set to miss the finals for the first time since 2009 and just the second time in 11 years, with the Hawks falling to 13th on the ladder with three rounds to play.  

The loss soured captain Jarryd Roughead's 250th match in what has been a triumphant return to the game in 2017, with the champion forward chaired off the ground through a guard of honour.

Five talking points: Richmond v Hawthorn

The absence of Jack Riewoldt in an already undersized forward line could have proved too much for the Tigers on Sunday, but it was just another hurdle they leapt over in a season that is building nicely.

Josh Caddy was brilliant with a career-best four goals, holding down a deep forward role and finishing with 28 possessions, six inside 50s and nine marks in his best game for the club.

Fellow recruit Dion Prestia also played the best game of his season after a one-week rest, winning a game-high eight clearances and 31 possessions, showing how valuable he could be at the pointy end of the season.

Dustin Martin (32 possessions and two goals) spent long periods forward, particularly after he was dumped in a heavy tackle in the third quarter, with Prestia becoming the midfield architect.

He was well supported by Kane Lambert (30 and eight inside 50s), while the typically rock solid backline hardly faltered, keeping the Hawks to 4.8 in the first three quarters before the Hawks rattled on five goals in the final term.

"I was happy our boys started well. We knew they were a fast-starting side, and our guys came to play early," coach Damien Hardwick said.

SHOWREEL: Caddy cashes in as Tigers prevail

"There are a lot of sides thankful for us beating them, because they were coming and playing those guys in September is a bit of a concern, so it was a good win."

The Hawks were well-served by prolific midfielder Tom Mitchell (35 possessions) and James Sicily, who controlled the airwaves in defence with 29 possessions, 10 marks and seven rebounds.

Coach Alastair Clarkson said his team simply lacked "the polish and hardness" of the Tigers, who repeatedly punished them on the turnover, with fumbles and errors by hand proving costly.

"They're as good as any side in the competition at making you pay on the turnover and getting open goals," the coach said. 

"I think of their 13 goals, nearly seven or eight of them were goalsquare goals and that's a reflection of just how easily the ball moves from one end of the ground to the other.

"Our goals were so hard to come by. We worked hard through the course of the game, but we just didn't have that polish and hardness in close that Richmond demonstrated tonight and it probably cost us the game."

Richmond made sure nothing was easy for the Hawks, bringing swarming tackle pressure in the first quarter and feasting on their opponents' turnovers with quick counter-attack football.  

Bombing the ball inside 50 was going to be a recipe for disaster without Riewoldt, but it was clear from the start the Tigers had a plan and they picked apart a Hawthorn backline that was in disarray without suspended champion Luke Hodge.

They dominated for long periods without getting reward, kicking just one goal in the second quarter from nine inside 50s, but they put their foot down in the third, kicking four goals to one in a match-winning burst.

Percentage will be crucial for the Tigers in the run to September and conceding five goals in the final term was the only sour note as they moved level on points with second-placed Greater Western Sydney.

MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: Corey Ellis copped a knock to the nose and was patched up in the rooms post-match, but the Tigers suffered no significant injuries. Martin was put down in a heavy tackle in the third quarter and took some time to shake it off, but was fine to play on and kicked two quick goals soon after.

Hawthorn: Jack Gunston came to the bench in the third quarter to have his left pinky finger attended to but played on with it taped. The Hawks had no other concerns.

NEXT UP
Richmond has an opportunity to stamp its premiership credentials against a Geelong team next Saturday that will be missing injured captain Joel Selwood. The Tigers haven't played at Simonds Stadium since 2012, with their last win at the venue coming in 2006. Hawthorn faces North Melbourne in Launceston in the final match in Tasmania for the season.

RICHMOND          5.4          6.8          9.10        13.15 (93)
HAWTHORN        1.3          2.5          4.8          9.10 (64)

GOALS
Richmond: Caddy 4, C.Ellis 2, Martin 2, Rioli, Cotchin, Soldo, Prestia, Nankervis
Hawthorn: Miles 2, Breust 2, Schoenmakers 2, Roughead 2, Mitchell

BEST
Richmond: Caddy, Prestia, Martin, Lambert, Nankervis, Rance, Grimes
Hawthorn: Sicily, Mitchell, Smith, Howe, Roughead, Gunston

INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Fisher, Schmitt, Findlay

Official crowd: 58,342 at the MCG