Tempers have flared as Richmond held off a late Hawthorn surge to win their pulsating AFL match by 13 points on Sunday at the MCG.
The Hawks kicked six goals to three in the last quarter, but the Tigers rebounded from last week’s disappointing loss to Adelaide to win 15.12 (102) to 13.11 (89).
It is Hawthorn’s first loss of the season.
Two days after Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson called for a crackdown on players drawing high free kicks, it sparked a scuffle in the last quarter.
Nuggety Hawks forward Paul Puopolo appeared to drop his knees and gained a free kick for high contact.
That prompted an angry reaction from Richmond players and Puopolo’s teammate Cyril Rioli ran in to provide support as a scuffle broke out.
Puopolo kicked a goal from the free, reducing the margin to 21 points, but the Tigers steadied with Jack Riewoldt’s fourth goal.
There was another scuffle a couple of minutes from the final siren when Hawks forward Luke Breust marked in front of goal and Richmond defender Alex Rance collected his head with a late spoil.
Breust was too dazed to take the free kick, with Jaegar O’Meara kicking the last goal of the game instead.
Shaun Grigg also remonstrated with Puopolo at the end of the first quarter after the Hawks forward won a free kick for high contact.
Hawks midfielder Tom Mitchell was again prolific, racking up 42 possessions.
His first three games this season have all returned 40-plus disposals.
But Mitchell had less influence against the Tigers.
Damien Hardwick dropped a big hint about his plans for Mitchell on Friday when he pondered whether they should put a hard tag on the Hawks onballer or restrict what happens around him.
Despite Ben McEvoy winning the ruck and Mitchell’s prolific game, Richmond were able to quell their influence and also hurt Hawthorn on turnovers.
The Tigers locked the ball in their half of the ground for much of the third term, kicking four goals to two.
The first goal of the last term gave Richmond a 39-point lead and that proved decisive.
Hawks captain Jarryd Roughead and Richmond spearhead Jack Riewoldt kicked four goals apiece, while Rance was excellent in defence.
There was a bizarre score review early in the second quarter, when a goal was awarded initially to Richmond.
But video footage clearly showed Hawks player Jack Gunston was the last player to touch the ball and after a hurried discussion, the umpires correctly reversed the video decision and called it a rushed behind.
