1. Review the review
The MCG crowd, players and coaches were left stunned in the second term after an error with the goal review process incorrectly awarded Tiger Jason Castagna a goal momentarily. As teammate Sam Lloyd centred a ball towards the goalsquare, Castagna was tracking back towards the line with Hawks opponent Jack Gunston as the ball tumbled over the line. A review was called to confirm it had come off Gunston for a behind, before the screen announced a goal. Players instantly voiced their concern to umpires and the correct call was made before the ball was bounced in the centre.
TIGERS TOO GOOD: Full match coverage and stats
WATCH: When good reviews go bad
2. Rested Tigers enjoy the prowl
Heading into the match, Richmond enjoyed an extra four-day break compared to Hawthorn from last week. It paid dividends, the Tigers getting it done late in quarters, kicking four goals more than the Hawks after the 25 minute mark in the first three terms with the game on the line. Hawthorn's masseuses were made to earn their money, players getting constant work throughout the game and at the quarter breaks.
WATCH: Lloyd snaps a beauty
3. Record breakers in the Melbourne sun
With the temperature pushing 30 degrees for the bounce on a perfect Melbourne day, 70,711 fans packed into the MCG, seeing the highest ever crowd between the two clubs. Just minutes before the bounce of the ball, lines outside the ground were pushing beyond the concourse with thousands missing the opening stanza. With restrictions in place outside the ground within 80 metres of the venue, the car parks around the ground were at full capacity pre-game. Having never met in a final, the previous record between the two clubs was 66,305 in round 18, 2015.
WATCH: Cotchin brilliance sets up a goal
4. Jack in the box
Debutant Jack Higgins brought the Richmond faithful to their feet with an electric first goal in the second term. Standing 177cm, Higgins marked before trailing Hawthorn ruckman Ben McEvoy and snapped truly with his first touch in his career. He then took off on a run of celebration in front of the Richmond members in the Olympic Stand. Both arms raised, he could've been mistaken for the pose of club champion Kevin Bartlett's statue outside the MCG. He then mirrored great Cristiano Ronaldo with a mid-air soccer in the third term and saluting to the Ponsford Stand. Higgins made up an inexperienced small forward trio with Dan Butler (25 games) and Jason Castagna (33 games) and will give coach Damien Hardwick a headache when Daniel Rioli (43 games) is ready to return.
WATCH: Higgins does a Ronaldo
5. Rance under scrutiny after late hit
With Hawthorn mounting the latest of surges, Tigers defender Alex Rance tried to stem the flow physically, taking out Luke Bruest in the process. Set to mark a ball in the forward 50, Breust copped a late hit from Rance as the Tiger flew to try and spoil the ball. Breust was left groggy from the hit but did play out the game. It will be reviewed by match review officer Michael Christian who will decide if Rance can suit up for next week's game against Brisbane. In a week where his own coach, Alastair Clarkson, linked Cat Joel Selwood’s shrugging tactics to concussion, Puopolo received plenty of attention from the Tigers. On the quarter-time siren, he had a heated discussion with Shaun Grigg after Grigg felt he had ducked to win a free kick.
