Look back over rounds 19-23.

ROUND 19

Richmond 14.14 (98) d Gold Coast Suns 10.5 (65)

Saturday, July 29 at Metricon Stadium

Summary:

Gold Coast kicked the first two goals before the Tigers woke up but it was one-way traffic after that. Playing without Jack Riewoldt for the first time all season after he copped a poke in the eye at training, the Tigers found a spread of goalkickers with Toby Nankervis booting three in a standout second term.
Goals
Richmond: Rioli 3, Nankervis 3, Castagna 3, Grigg, Caddy, Cotchin, Martin, C. Ellis
Gold Coast: Lynch 3, Miller, Rosa, Wright, Saad, Fiorini, Martin, Lonergan
Best
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Rance, Rioli, B. Ellis, Miles
Gold Coast: Hanley, Hall, Swallow, Martin, Fiorini, Witts
Crowd: 16,207
Ladder position: 4th
Flag odds: $13

We probably weren’t quite at our Best today but still got the job done, which good sides win sometimes when they’re not playing at their absolute Best. — Damien Hardwick

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ROUND 20

Richmond 13.15 (93) d Hawthorn 9.10 (64)

Sunday, August 6 at MCG

Summary:

Four goals from Josh Caddy helped cover Jack Riewoldt and end Hawthorn’s hopes of another finals appearance as the Tigers started to be taken seriously as a top-four chance after an excellent four-quarter performance. Fellow recruit Dion Prestia played his best game for his new club with 31 disposals.
Goals
Richmond: Caddy 4, C. Ellis 2, Martin 2, Rioli, Cotchin, Soldo, Prestia, Nankervis
Hawthorn: Miles 2, Breust 2, Schoenmakers 2, Roughead 2, Mitchell
Best
Richmond: Caddy, Prestia, Martin, Lambert, Nankervis, Rance, Grimes
Hawthorn: Sicily, Mitchell, Smith, Howe, Roughead, Gunston
Crowd: 58,342
Ladder position: 3rd
Flag odds: $8

There are a lot of sides thankful for us beating them, because they were coming and playing those guys in September is a bit of a concern, so it was a good win — Damien Hardwick

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ROUND 21

Geelong 11.14 (80) d Richmond 9.12 (66)

Saturday, August 12 at Simonds Stadium

Summary:

Geelong extended its winning streak against Richmond to 13 matches with a 14-point win on its home deck at Simonds Stadium. The Cats were without Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan but outworked the Tigers and proved too good in the air. Harry Taylor started forward on Alex Rance and proved the difference between the sides with four goals.
Goals
Geelong: Taylor 4, Menzel 2, Motlop, Stanley, C. Guthrie, Mackie, Simpson
Richmond: Martin 2, Riewoldt, Houli, Butler, Caddy, Cotchin, Rioli, Edwards
Best
Geelong: Taylor, Dangerfield, Menegola, Kolodjashnij, Motlop, Tuohy, Smith, C. Guthrie
Richmond: Lambert, Martin, Cotchin, Prestia, Grimes
Crowd: 32,266
Ladder position: 4th
Flag odds: $9

I just thought they out-hunted us at the contest. I thought their work rate contest to contest was better than ours, and they got the result they probably deserved. — Damien Hardwick

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ROUND 22

Richmond 25.5 (155) d Fremantle 7.9 (51)

Sunday, August 20 at Subiaco

Summary:

The Tigers not only did what they had to but also some more as they recorded their biggest win in more than three years against a struggling Fremantle. The Dockers led by four points at quarter-time before Richmond put the foot down and kicked 22 of the game’s last 26 goals. In his first game of the season and fifth for the club, Tiger Jacob Townsend was the surprise package with six goals.
Goals
Richmond: Townsend 6, Riewoldt 4, Butler 3, Lambert 3, Martin 2, Rance, Rioli, Graham, Edwards, McIntosh, Houli, Nankervis.
Dockers: Bennell 2, Crozier 2, Ballantyne, Deluca, Fyfe.
Best
Richmond: Martin, Grigg, Townsend, Lambert, Ellis, Houli, Nankervis.
Dockers: Fyfe, Mundy, S. Hill, B Hill, Sutcliffe.
Crowd: 34,204
Ladder position: 4th
Flag odds: $9

We’re starting to grow in confidence with what we’re able to do. We were really disappointed the week previous but I think over the last nine weeks we’re 7-2. So we’ve been in some really good form, although not to the level that you probably saw today. — Damien Hardwick

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ROUND 23

Richmond 19.8 (122) d St Kilda 12.9 (81)

Sunday, August 27 at MCG

Summary:

On the final Sunday of the season, St Kilda still had a mathematical finals chance and retiring club champion Nick Riewoldt to play for but Richmond was never really troubled on its way to a powerful 41-point triumph, securing itself a top-three finish. Jacob Townsend backed up a six-goal haul the week prior with another five but it was Dustin Martin (36 disposals, two goals) who was the clear Best-on-ground.
Goals:
Richmond: Townsend 5, Riewoldt 3, Grigg 3, Butler 2, Martin 2, Prestia 2, Graham, Cotchin.
St Kilda: Gresham 5, Billings 2, Membrey 2, Longer, Bruce, Riewoldt.
Best:
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Prestia, Vlastuin, Townsend, Grigg.
St Kilda: Steele, Ross, Gresham, Carlisle, Steven, Billings.
Crowd: 69,104
Ladder position: 3rd
Flag odds: $6

It was always going to be a tough ask, and I thought the boys handled themselves really well. We started well, which was pleasing. We’ve still got some areas of our game that are a little bit frustrating at times, but some of that was due to the Saints’ good play as well. We’re really happy to have earned the double chance, which is great — Damien Hardwick

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Year of the Tiger: In pictures

VIEW GALLERY

• Chapter 1: Richmond’s dream comes true
• Chapter 2: Rounds 1-6
• Chapter 3: Rounds 7-12
• Chapter 4: Rounds 13-18
• Chapter 5: Rounds 19-23
• Chapter 6: Finals
• Chapter 7: How Tigers build a winning team
• Chapter 8: The coach: how Dimma guided Richmond
• Chapter 9: Cotchin: The truth about Dusty
• Chapter 10: Jack lifts the lid on success