Richmond hold AFL top-eight spot

[Elano The One And Only]

Richmond are striding confidently towards a massive clash with AFL top-eight rivals Essendon after completing a 34-point win over Melbourne on Sunday.

The Tigers won 15.16 (106) to 11.6 (72) but only after the Demons rediscovered their niggle and gave a much-improved showing on last week's loss to Gold Coast.

Brandon Ellis was best-afield with 39 disposals and his fellow 19-year-old Nick Vlastuin with 25 possessions was another big contributor for the Tigers.

Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin contributed three goals each for Richmond who were only seven points clear at halftime and 22 points ahead at three-quarter time.

Aaron Davey (three goals) and James Magner were solid performers for the Demons who lost their seventh game for the season but showed some fight for under-siege coach Mark Neeld.

Richmond had 53 inside-50 entries compared to Melbourne's 34 but the Tigers booted 15.16 while Melbourne converted better with 11.6.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said key forwards Ty Vickery (0.3) and Riewoldt (3.3) were partly to blame.

"If you don't take those chances and the other side kicks reasonably straight, they just hang around," he said.

Hardwick said he spoke to his players after the game about conceding easy goals.

"When you're giving away 50-metre penalties and undisciplined frees like 'Kingy' (Jake King) did, it's disappointing," Hardwick said.

Hardwick said the Tigers (5-3 win-loss) played okay in spurts against tough opposition.

"Their (Melbourne's) aggression, their niggle was outstanding," he said.

While Sunday's game attracted a crowd of 39,148, Hardwick is expecting around 80,000 fans to pack into the MCG on Saturday night for the annual Dreamtime clash with Essendon (6-2).

"We're really proud to play in that game. We're certainly very excited," Hardwick said.

"Shane Edwards is an indigenous ambassador for our footy club. It's going to be a big game for both footy clubs."

Neeld praised his players' effort.

"We've had one week where people could question the effort of us, over a five-week period, so that's not too bad," Neeld said.

When told that former Melbourne skipper Garry Lyon was calling for his position to be reviewed, second-year coach Neeld said: "That's fair enough.

"That's the life of being involved in the AFL."

Neeld said he was confident the Demons had unearthed some promising young players.

"We just need to add those couple of boys who are out at the moment (including injured trio Mitch Clark, Jack Grimes and Jack Viney and suspended forward Colin Sylvia) and things will be alright," he said.

Melbourne travel to Perth to play Fremantle next Sunday.

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