TYRONE Vickery might have been the difference in more ways than one with his four-goal haul for Richmond as it beat the Brisbane Lions by 25 points at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The marking forward's equal career-best tally helped separate the Tigers from the Lions in a tight battle as Damien Hardwick's side claimed its fifth win of the season, 12.7 (79) to 7.12 (54).
And Vickery's effort – he finished with 16 disposals and four marks – also highlighted the stark lack of tall forward options for the Lions.
While Vickery and Jack Riewoldt, who competed well for two goals, combined to be dangerous for the Tigers, the Lions' fleet of smaller types manufactured most of their scoring opportunities.
Recently retired captain and champion forward Jonathan Brown looked on in the coaches' box as the young and developing Michael Close and Daniel Merrett, better suited as a defender, took on the key forward responsibilities.
It was a game where nothing came easy for either team, with plenty of effort but not a lot of polish.
Vickery had slotted two goals before the Lions had registered their first kick in the opening two minutes, and early on the Tigers capitalised on the visitors' poor skill level. When that lifted, so did the Lions.
Their more crafty players got involved – Pearce Hanley, Sam Mayes and Lewis Taylor – and by the first break they trailed by 11 points, but the game was evenly poised.
The evenness continued in the second term, with only a goal apiece until Jake Batchelor shifted forward to kick a major with less than 30 seconds to go.
The Lions responded after the main break, getting back to within a point, before three quick Tiger goals stretched the gap to 18 points at the last change.
For the first seven minutes of the final term the Lions had their chances, with substitute Ashley McGrath missing two shots and Hanley another after waves of attack. It was a lack of finish that was costly.
The ball swung down the other end of the ground, ended in Riewoldt's hands and he walked into an open goal, all but sealing the win.
Lions counterpart Justin Leppitsch, who was an assistant at Richmond before winning the Lions' senior role, said it was a lost opportunity.
"We had our chances, didn't we?" Leppitsch said post-game.
?"When two teams have the same amount of scoring shots it sometimes comes down to those little things. We weren't clean, we chopped up the footy a bit. There's some lessons learned out of that. Our use of the ball was probably the big one to stand out."
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin and Pearce Hanley spent periods of the game going head-to-head, and the statistics reflected it. Cotchin finished with 37 disposals, while Hanley collected 34 at 74 per cent efficiency.
Tom Rockliff was his usual self, picking up possessions at the stoppages, with 17 of his 36 being contested, while Stefan Martin continues to improve as a mobile ruckman, tallying 20 disposals and 32 hit-outs.
First-year defender Darcy Gardiner was solid, while Taylor (18 disposals and six inside-50 entries), Zorko (21 and two goals) and Claye Beams offered some zip and zest for the Lions.
RICHMOND 5.2 7.3 10.4 12.7 (79)
BRISBANE LIONS 3.3 4.5 6.10 7.12 (54)
GOALS
Richmond: Vickery 4, Riewoldt 2, Edwards 2, Arnot, Batchelor, Petterd, Conca
Brisbane Lions: Zorko 2, Mayes, Green, Taylor, Close, Bewick
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Ellis, Jackson, Rance, Vickery, Riewoldt, Martin
Brisbane Lions: Hanley, Rockliff, Maguire, Gardiner, Zorko, Martin, Taylor
INJURIES
Richmond: Rance (ankle)
Brisbane Lions: Zorko (ankle)
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Matt Arnot replaced by Brett O'Hanlon in the third quarter
Brisbane Lions: James Aish replaced by Ash McGrath in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Fisher, Findlay
Official crowd: 34,560 at the MCG
