RICHMOND’S remarkable surge towards the finals continued when Brett Deledio inspired a slogging 10-point victory against Adelaide on Saturday night.
The Tigers won a seventh consecutive match for the first time in nearly two decades, prevailing 10.19 (79) to 9.15 (69) at a rain-soaked Adelaide Oval.
Deledio kicked two goals and was a standout for Richmond, now ninth on the ladder and on their longest winning streak since 1995.
The Tigers controlled proceedings until a last-term surge by the Crows lifted them to the lead - three points up with four minutes to go.
But Richmond's unheralded Nathan Gordon snapped his second goal and Dustin Martin soon slotted his second of the match to keep the Tigers' season alive.
Deledio was instrumental in the triumph, collecting 29 disposals, while his teammates Brandon Ellis (31 touches) and captain Trent Cotchin (28 disposals) were prominent.
Tigers coach Damien Hardwick described the win as one of his best in charge of the club.
"We were headed in the last quarter and for our guys to dig deep was nothing short of outstanding," Hardwick said.
"It'd be right up there [as one of the best wins].
"It was one of those games that was sort of seesawing the whole way…[I'm] really pleased not only for our players but for our supporters back home."
Adelaide's Taylor Walker, Eddie Betts and James Podsiadly each booted two goals but the Crows produced few clear-cut four-quarter winners.
The Crows still cling to eighth spot despite the loss before a home crowd of 50,459 spectators - but were fortunate three other rivals for that ladder positionlost this round.
The home side struggled from the outset as Deledio goaled in just 14 seconds - the first of three unanswered Tiger majors inside the initial seven minutes of the game.
Richmond's early onslaught gave them precious breathing space which the visitors neverrelinquished - Adelaide snuck within four points late in the second stanza.
But Richmond held sway and led by 13 points at halftime before a slippery stalemate of a third quarter was punctuated by a head injury to Adelaide's David Mackay, who was stretchered off after an accidental head clash with Anthony Miles.
The third term also featured a contentious goal review when Adelaide's Sloane snapped a goal which stood for about two minutes - until video reviewers deemed the kick hit the post.
Adelaide trailed by 19 points at the last change but booted four goals to none in 13minutes to take the lead, only for the Tigers to rally late to bank a precious 10th win of the season.
Although the Crows went close to stealing an unlikely victory, coach Brenton Sanderson said the Tigers undoubtedly deserved the win.
Even so, Sanderson ultimately put the loss down to a lack of composure on his team's part.
"We almost pinched it but I think everybody would agree that Richmond were the better side," Sanderson said.
"They played the better footy over four quarters, but I've been involved in plenty of games when you've been able to pinch a win like that.
"When we did hit the front we weren’t able to have the poise required or the ability to actually go and win."
ADELAIDE 2.3 4.10 5.13 9.15 (69)
RICHMOND 5.1 7.5 8.14 10.9 (79)
GOALS
Adelaide: Walker, Podsiadly, Betts 2, Jenkins, Mackay, Cameron
Richmond: Delidio, Gordon, Martin 2, Griffiths, Foley, Cotchin, Edwards
BEST
Adelaide: Jacobs, Dangerfield, Talia, Crouch, Wright, Douglas
Richmond: Cotchin, Deledio, Ellis, Grigg, Gordon, Rance
INJURIES
Adelaide: Mackay (concussion)
Richmond: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Adelaide: David Mackay replaced by Mitch Grigg in the third quarter
Richmond: Jake Batchelor replaced by Ben Lennon in the fourth quarter
Reports:
Adelaide: Nil
Richmond: Nil
Umpires: Dalgleish, Stevic, Mitchell
Official crowd: 50,459 at Adelaide Oval
