Coach disappointed with Tigers

Coach Damien Hardwick was unhappy that Richmond's fourth-quarter slump detracted from their 16-point win over St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

The Tigers had the game sewn up at three-quarter time as they led by 52 points, but they conceded six unanswered goals in the final term.

It was exactly the kind of display Hardwick had not wanted to see, especially since his side, who are 17.00to win the premiership, take on ladder leaders Fremantle next weekend.

The Tigers are 1.82 to beat Fremantle, who are 2.00.

"We did speak about that ruthlessness to finish off and it was obviously very disappointing," said the coach. "Without being disrespectful, we've played against sides we should have beaten and we have beaten.

"Granted we've got three of our starting forwards out of the game this week, we just didn't have the polish there.

"We had some good bits of play, but defensively and offensively in the last quarter we were nowhere near the level we expect to play at."

Richmond went into the match missing the suspended Ty Vickery and Ben Griffiths, who has a shoulder injury. In their absence, star vice-captain Brett Deledio stepped up with a three-goal haul and young half-forward Ben Lennon also booted three majors.

Jack Riewoldt's goalkicking let him down, as he finished with 2.4, but he took five contested marks in the game as the Tigers secured their fourth straight victory.

St Kilda left their rally too late, having kicked only four goals before the final change, and lost for the third time in four games. In-form forward Josh Bruce didn't kick a major until the 15-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Mav Weller was outstanding for the Saints and led the way with three goals including the game's last.