NO MATTER what time of year or in what setting, Richmond taking on Collingwood always has the veil of rivalry hovering over the contest.
The fourth practice match of 2021 was a hot game in more ways than one.
With the temperature hovering around 25°C as the opening siren sounded at 10:15am and pushing closer to 30 once the final siren sounded, Richmond and Collingwood hunted the footy and the man from the get-go.
A NEW ERA STARTS The 2021 VFL season is like no other
The Tigers clawed their way back from 19 points down in the third term to run out winners by 28 points at the Swinburne Centre.
Collingwood looked set to run away with the contest after kicking its fifth goal in a row early in the third quarter before a resurgent Richmond went on a tear in the final term, running out victors, 14.12 (96) to 9.14 (68).
The Tigers, trailing by just over three goals in the early stages of the third term needed a spark to initiate a turn of fortunes, and they found it in the form of a premier cricket all-rounder.
Brad Melville’s outstanding smother inside 50 set up Riley Collier-Dawkins to break Collingwood’s run of goals. The Tigers' top-up then kicked his own after the three-quarter-time siren
RICHMOND 1.2 3.6 7.10 14.12 (96)
COLLINGWOOD 1.7 5.8 8.11 9.14 (68)
GOALS
Richmond: Ross 2, Ryan 2, Melville 2, Rioli, Collier-Dawkins, Hicks, Martyn, Chol, Olden, Garthwaite, McDonagh
Collingwood: Cameron 2, Ruscoe 2, Wellings, Lynch, Henry, Mccreery, Kelly
