Richmond key forward Jack Riewoldt starred with seven goals as the Tigers held off St Kilda in their AFL clash at the MCG.

The Tigers again looked vulnerable in the final quarter, but kept their nerve to win by 17 points, 14.15 (99) to 12.10 (82).

Riewoldt’s cousin Nick, the Saints captain, also impressed with four goals.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin broke a strong tag from Clint Jones to finish with a game-high 31 disposals.

St Kilda won the centre clearances 19-9, but paid for poor ball use in a game that was frequently scrappy.

Jack Riewoldt was goal-less in round one as the Tigers also grimly held off Carlton, but on Friday he was lethal.

Saints ruckman Ben McEvoy dominated, but his star teammate Lenny Hayes had a strangely-quiet night.

While the Tigers have two wins, St Kilda are in early trouble with two losses.

Richmond defenders Dylan Grimes and Steven Morris were outstanding, shutting down the St Kilda small forwards.

After several Saints cramped in last week’s Gold Coast heat, they appeared to struggle during the final term when the game was on the line.

Richmond led by 24 points in the third term after Jack Riewoldt kicked his sixth and they were on the verge of putting the game beyond St Kilda.

But Nick Riewoldt kicked the last two goals of the quarter to reduce the margin to 11 points.

Terry Milera and Beau Maister botched scoring chances at the start of the last term before Ahmed Saad’s superb kick from an acute angle reduced the margin to just four points.

It would be the Saints’ only goal of the last term.

The Saints played Rhys Stanley as a spare tall in defence for the final term and he was nearly the stepladder for Jake King to take the mark of the year.

King, who had a great game in attack, somehow climbed onto Stanley’s shoulders, but spilled the ball.

A dubious free kick gave Jack Riewoldt his seventh goal and the Tigers some vital breathing space.

With the Saints pressing at 24 minutes, Reece Conca made an outstanding intercept in the middle of the ground to relieve the pressure.

A minute later, Ivan Maric goalled in his 100th game to seal the win.

St Kilda managed to keep the game tight during the first half and trailed by 16 points at the long break.

The Saints started Jason Blake on Riewoldt, but Sam Fisher went onto him before halftime.

Riewoldt kicked eight goals against St Kilda in round 10 last year.