IF NORTH Melbourne wasn't already fully committed to its pursuit of Dustin Martin, the star Tiger's brutal dismantling of the Kangaroos on Saturday night should do the trick. 

Martin turned in one of the finest performances of his season-long audition for potential suitors as the Tigers went on a third-quarter rampage to put the Kangaroos away, 14.17 (101) to 9.12 (66).

Full match details and statistics

In doing so, Richmond (7-4) beat North (4-7) for just the second time in nine meetings across six years and climbed into the top four.

The Roos were already reportedly willing to offer Martin at least $1 million a season over five years to win his services and his do-it-all, 38-possession, two-goal effort may force the Kangaroos to increase their offer.

Martin's match-high nine clearances helped Damien Hardwick's Tigers win the clearance battle 41-31, including 18-8 out of the middle. 

"It was a pretty impressive game," Hardwick said of Martin.

"I thought Trent, our captain, was also outstanding. He gets 70-odd pressure points and 11 tackles and his physicality in and around the contest (was superb).

"His possession gains at crucial stages were good and Dustin's just had a wonderful season thus far. We know those guys are really quality players. We expect them to play well in big games and they did tonight."

Martin was a class above a turnover-strewn contest that demanded someone grab it by the scruff of the neck. He was ever-present, but the Tigers split the game open in a chaotic seven-minute period right after half-time.

Fifty-metre penalties against North defenders Scott Thompson then Robbie Tarrant delivered goals to Jack Riewoldt and Shaun Grigg that propelled Richmond 10 points in front after a half-time deficit.

Five talking points: North Melbourne v Richmond

It was a continuation of the Kangaroos shooting themselves in the foot, after the Tigers had 14 scoring shots – admittedly for only five goals – off their rival's first-half turnovers.

Panic had set in by the time Riewoldt, who was involved in both earlier third-quarter goals, nabbed Tarrant in a tackle and slotted his second major.

All that was missing was Martin making a scoreboard impression. Another North giveback – this time off Todd Goldstein's boot – saw the Tigers rush the ball forward to Martin, who burned off Luke McDonald and thumped through a 50m goal.

The difference would have been more if Martin's teammates had converted two of his savvy passes, including an over-the-shoulder centring ball while hugging the boundary. The follow-up act soon after was predictable: a close-range Martin snap for maximum points.

North coach Brad Scott was non-committal mid-week on the prospect of tagging the game's most coveted out-of-contract star, then watched the Tiger bulldoze his way to 20 first-half touches.

Consoling Scott was the fact his team held a two-point edge at that stage.

Ed Vickers-Willis was sighted in Martin's vicinity early, but Trent Dumont – North's run-with specialist in Ben Jacobs' absence – had the longest crack at football's toughest job.

"Not much pleased me at all," Scott told reporters.

"We got slaughtered in the centre bounces 18-8 with what should have been a dominant ruckman, we got outworked in transition, we were terrible with our ball use going forward (and) we succumbed to pressure … 

"There wasn't much to like about tonight … (but) four or five years ago, if we'd played like that we would’ve been absolutely pumped – the game would’ve been over by half-time. So the foundations, I think, are still pretty good."

Dion Prestia (35 disposals) played his best game for Richmond as he finally shakes knee and calf issues, while Cotchin (32, eight clearances), Bachar Houli (31) and Brandon Ellis (30) also won huge numbers. 

Unheralded defender David Astbury was also influential in a shutdown job on Roos focal point Jarrad Waite, who managed just 1.3 among 12 possessions.

Solid servants Jamie Macmillan (26), Sam Gibson (25) and Dumont (24) were the Roos' major ball-winners, but none had the impact of Martin, Cotchin and co.

MEDICAL ROOM
Richmond: The Tigers came through unscathed to make their night even sweeter. 

North Melbourne: There were some sore Roos during the night, with Marley Williams (hip), Nathan Hrovat (calf) and Taylor Garner (leg) leaving the field at various stages. None appeared too serious and they will have the bye next week to recover.

NEXT UP
Richmond has placed itself in a strong position going into the bye to return to the finals after a dismal 2016 campaign. A Saturday night date with Sydney at the MCG on June 17 presents another opportunity for the Tigers to prove their credentials. North gets the Friday night stage after a week off and will be keen to put in a better display against an out-of-sorts St Kilda side.

NORTH MELBOURNE  2.4    7.6     8.9    9.12   (66)                  
RICHMOND                 3.4   6.10  12.13  14.17   (101)           

GOALS
North Melbourne: Wood 2, Atley 2, Brown, Waite, Higgins, Gibson, Hansen
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Martin 2, Butler 2, Lambert 2, Castagna, Cotchin, Edwards, Ellis, Grigg, Rioli 

BEST 
North Melbourne: Gibson, Dumont, Macmillan, Tarrant, Hrovat
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Prestia, Rance, Houli, Lambert, Ellis, Cotchin 

INJURIES 
North Melbourne: Garner (leg)
Richmond: Nil 

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Foot, Rosebury, Hosking, Schmitt

Official crowd: 36,100 at Etihad Stadium