Richmond have all but sealed their first AFL finals berth in 12 years and showed they could do some damage when they get there with an impressive run-away win over top-placed Hawthorn.

Saturday’s 16.11 (107) to 9.12 (66) win at the MCG, which lifted Richmond to a 12-6 record, gave the sixth-placed Tigers their second big scalp in a fortnight, after they downed fifth-placed Fremantle at the same venue two rounds ago.

They became the first team other than Geelong to beat the Hawks this season and made it two in a row against Hawthorn, having thrashed them by 62 points last year in their most recent meeting.

The Tigers blasted clear with a six-goals-to-three first quarter, before the Hawks fought back to hold a two-point lead at halftime.

But Richmond pulled away in a tight, contested finals-like third quarter, in which they outscored Hawthorn 4.4 to 1.2 as rain began falling, to take a three-goal advantage.

They then streamed away with six of the first seven goals of the last quarter to bury the Hawks.

Tiger skipper Trent Cotchin (34 disposals, nine tackles) was excellent in the clinches to lead a dominant Richmond midfield, while long-kicking Dustin Martin again showed his class with 25 touches and a goal.

Key defenders Troy Chaplin and Alex Rance were also outstanding as the star-studded Hawthorn attack was kept to its lowest score of the season.

Chaplin kept Jarryd Roughead – who started the round equal leader on the AFL’s goal-kicking tally – goal-less while Rance battled valiantly to keep Franklin to one goal and little influence.

Steven Morris did a shut-down job on Cyril Rioli, who had just seven touches.

Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals to move to 53 for the season, one behind Roughead.

Isaac Smith was the Hawks’ best with 29 disposals, but most of their stars failed to shine.