Round Five
Tuesday, April 24, 7.25pm (local time)
Melbourne v Richmond, MCG 

First quarter: Richmond 2.2 (14) to Melbourne 1.5 (11)

For most of the opening term, Melbourne had double the inside 50s, but a recent trend of not capitalising in attack again came to the fore.

In the end, the red and blue finished with 19 inside 50s to 13 for the quarter, and had six scoring shots to four, but trailed by three points at the first interval. 

Jake Melksham – who kicked at least one goal in the last 12 matches of the 2017 season – booted his first for the year when he got the game underway at the two-minute mark.

Richmond’s Jack Higgins booted his third goal in his second AFL game, landing his side’s first eight minutes in.

And when Jason Castagna added the yellow and black’s second in time-on, the reigning premiers claimed the lead for the first time in the match.

Second quarter: Richmond 5.8 (38) to Melbourne 2.6 (18)

Richmond extended its lead to 18 points when it posted six of the first seven scoring shots of the second term. 

But the lead could’ve been greater had the Tigers not wasted opportunities in front of goal. 

It allowed Melbourne to remain in touch, and when Melksham made it a couple – and booted his side’s second at the 21-minute mark – the Demons trailed by just two goals.

However, a quick reply from Sam Lloyd helped the Tigers gain a 20-point lead at half-time.

Nathan Jones, Clayton Oliver and Christian Salem had 13 touches each for Melbourne, while Tiger Kane Lambert had 17 disposals – the most by half-time. Higgins booted two more for the term to have three by the long break.

Third quarter: Richmond 8.9 (57) to Melbourne 5.8 (38)

Melbourne got just the start it needed in the second half, when Jesse Hogan kicked truly 45 seconds in.

And when Jeffy Garlett followed up soon after, the Demons trailed by a goal midway through the term.

It took 17 minutes before Richmond gained its first for the quarter, but after Jack Riewoldt converted, the Tigers gained a 13-point buffer.

But when Melksham bobbed up for his third at the 25-minute mark, Melbourne was down by just seven points.

However, two goals late goals from the yellow and black gave it a 19-point advantage heading into the final stanza.

Final quarter: Richmond 15.12 (102) d Melbourne 8.8 (56)

It was another fast start by the Demons, when James Harmes squeezed through a goal in the opening minute to keep them right in the game.

Although Melbourne trailed by just 13 points, Richmond soon had other ideas.

The Tigers slammed seven of the next nine goals, with Hogan’s second at the 12-minute mark and Melksham’s fourth in time-on the only other Melbourne majors. 

At one stage, Richmond piled on four goals in five minutes to lead by 46 points, which was also the final margin.

Oliver finished with a game-high 31 disposals, while Jones had 30 touches. Lambert had a team-high 29 possessions for the Tigers.