1. Tag-free Dusty gives Kangas a masterclass 
Given Dustin Martin has become one of the game's most damaging midfielders, it was something of a surprise that North didn't employ a hard tag, preferring instead to rotate several players on him. So the Richmond star basically did as he liked, cutting the Roos to ribbons with his brutish contested work and powerful, precise and visionary kicking. The Brownlow Medal fancy was best afield at halftime and lifted his game to a new level in the third term, slotting two goals – including an inspiring effort on the run from 50 metres after a gut-busting run – and delivering a scything pass across his body to Shaun Grigg in the corridor for another major. Martin finished with 38 possessions (15 contested) and nine clearances to show the Kangas – who are reportedly seeking to lure him as a free agent – why he's worth every cent of the $1m-plus-per-season offers bandied about.

2. Tigers break Roos' stranglehold with third-quarter burst
The Kangaroos had won seven of the past eight clashes between the teams – the one blemish had been in the last round of 2015 when they rested players before the finals – and it seemed their dominance might continue when they led 2.3 to 0.3 after 18 minutes. In a seesawing first half, the Roos were still seven points clear late in the second term, but Richmond piled on the next six goals, including four in the opening six minutes of the third term, in a matchwinning burst. At one point in the third quarter it appeared the Tigers might hold North goalless in a quarter for the first time since 2002, only for Shaun Atley to goal with a deft left-foot snap in time-on.

3. Star versus star at the bookends
In an era in which we often bemoan the lack of man-on-man contests, we were treated to fascinating duels between two of the game's best forwards and defenders, with the Tigers emerging victorious in both. Richmond champion backman Alex Rance took the honours against North spearhead Ben Brown (one goal), while Tigers champ Jack Riewoldt (21 touches, a game-high 10 marks and two goals) had the better of Robbie Tarrant. It didn't help the Roos' cause, either, that Brown had little support from veteran Jarrad Waite, who kicked just one goal and fluffed another attempt when he could have run in to point-blank range but decided to kick a dribbler from 35 metres and missed. It summed up Waite's night.

Robbie Tarrant had the better of Jack Riewoldt in this incident. Picture: AFL Photos

4. Mullett's costly kick-in clangers
Aaron Mullett is usually an astute decision-maker and neat left-foot kick, but the North Melbourne defender endured a nightmarish first half, giving away two goals after hitting Tigers with kick-ins. Nineteen minutes in, Mullett's kick dropped short of its intended target and was marked by Jason Castagna, who nailed an angle shot from 50 metres. Worse was to come midway through the second term when Mullett chipped a pass into the corridor that was intercepted by Brandon Ellis, who drilled a regulation shot from 40 metres. In the same period, the Roos made a few other galling kicking errors that resulted in scoring shots. 

Click here for full match details and stats

5. Former Sun shines
Richmond recruit Dion Prestia has been slow to find his feet at his new club but the former Gold Coast midfielder produced perhaps his best performance in the yellow and black, gathering a season-high 35 possessions. In a sign that he's building towards his best form, the man they call 'Meatball' was a solid in-and-under ball-winner and linkman. If the 24-year-old can continue his form, he will add another dimension to the Tigers' running brigade because it enables Martin to spend more time forward.

Saturday night's win was Dion Prestia's best game in a Tigers guernsey. Picture: AFL Photos