Whatever chance Richmond had of upsetting Geelong fell apart in five frenetic minutes on Saturday night at the MCG.
Injuries to ruck duo Ivan Maric and Tyrone Vickery early in the third term, combined with a lack of composure, meant the Tigers were doomed to a 44-point AFL loss.
Coach Damien Hardwick acknowledged Richmond became rattled when Maric hurt his leg and then Vickery was concussed in a head clash with Steve Johnson.
Moments later, Chris Newman’s frustration boiled over when he clashed with Taylor Hunt and Joel Selwood.
The incident will attract match review panel scrutiny, but it was more a wrestle than anything serious.
Hardwick described the period as a huge knockout blow and said Newman’s moment of poor discipline was disappointing.
But Geelong also rammed down Richmond’s collective throat what it means to be a top side.
The Tigers led by 19 points late in the second term, before Geelong put the game back on level terms with a four-goal burst to lead by five points at the main break.
The Cats kicked another two goals at the start of the third term.
Richmond twice reduced the margin to nine points midway through the third term but, by the last break, they were down by 24 points.
“We’re 3-3 – we’re in the pack,” Hardwick said.
“Those sides, especially Geelong, have shown us the level you’ve got to play at.
“I thought we’d be better than that, but we just couldn’t quite get the result we were after.”
Adding to Richmond’s injury concerns from the game, Ricky Petterd also hurt his leg.
While Maric was able to return to the field, he was very sore.
“Those three I’d say would be questionable at this stage,” Hardwick said.
The Tigers coach was careful about the umpiring, which infuriated Richmond fans.
At one point in the third term, the free-kick count was 14-4 in Geelong’s favour.
“We tackled well … there could have been a few go our way, put it that way.
“But overall, these sort of games, they do let them go a little bit.
Key forward Jack Riewoldt answered his critics with three goals, but Brett Deledio struggled to overcome a strong tagging effort from Taylor Hunt.