RICHMOND small forwards Tyson Stengle and Shai Bolton have turned up the heat on out-of-sorts teammate Jason Castagna with impressive performances for their Grand Final-bound VFL side. 

Castagna looks to be the sole Richmond player in danger of losing his position for the Tigers' AFL preliminary final next week against Greater Western Sydney or West Coast at the MCG. 

The round 19 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee has a total of 21 possessions and one goal across his past four games, although he has had 15 tackles in that time.

Richmond advanced to the VFL decider with a crushing 18.11 (119) to 8.6 (54) thrashing of Box Hill at Port Melbourne's Fortburn Stadium.

Steven Morris takes a mark as Reece Conca goes flying in the VFL preliminary final. Picture: AFL Photos

The Tigers will play the winner of Sunday’s other preliminary final between Williamstown and Port Melbourne as they bid to win just their third VFL/VFA premiership and first since 1905. They made their last VFL Grand Final a decade ago while still aligned with Coburg. 

Stengle, in particular, pressed his case with a terrific display from the start, including a great rundown tackle in the opening minutes and four score involvements in the third quarter alone. One of those was a goal of his own after a clever Bolton handball. 

The 171cm South Australian, who made his debut in round 15, added a highlight-reel handball over his head to fellow rookie-listed Tiger Mabior Chol to create another goal for Jacob Ballard in the last term. 

Stengle was one of many Richmond players to shine, along with defensive dasher Oleg Markov (26 disposals) and perennial ball-winners Anthony Miles (34), Sam Lloyd (30), Corey Ellis (23) and Connor Menadue (21). 

Forgotten ruckman Shaun Hampson outperformed fellow tall Ben Griffiths to give him the edge if the Tigers elect for extra height to support Toby Nankervis and bring in another marking option in attack.

Hampson had a close ruck battle with 21-year-old Hawk Marc Pittonet, but it was his strong contested marking at both ends – four for the match – that would have endeared him to selectors. 

Markov, who added a goal, was close to best afield as he bids to earn his AFL spot back after Josh Caddy replaced him last week. 

"We came in with the mindset to make someone else in your team better and I hope we did perform that, so it's good," Markov told Channel 7 after the game. 

"(Our forward pressure) was amazing and it made our job easier down back … tackles win games." 

Rookie-listed Callum Moore kicked three goals and Ben Lennon two as 15 Richmond players slotted maximum points.

The Tigers, who had 19 AFL-listed players compared to Box Hill's 11, set the win up with a six-goal-to-none opening term, with Miles (nine possessions) and Lloyd and Markov (eight each) pivotal in the hot start. 

Pittonet and promising teenager Oliver Hanrahan, who was especially good in the opening half, were Hawthorn's best contributors.