By Chris Nice and Isabel Quinlan
Richmond has turned Essendon's Dreamtime at the 'G encounter into a nightmare, putting together a masterful display to down the Bombers by 71 points.
The Tigers' aggressive and unrelenting tack on the football was led by Shane Edwards, whose impressive match saw him finish with a game-high 30 disposals, 11 score involvements, five clearances, two goals and the Yiooken Award for his best on ground performance.
Dustin Martin too was prolific through the midfield of the ground with 28 touches and a goal, while for the Bombers, Jake Stringer was solid in his 100th game with 29 possessions and nine clearances.
Josh Caddy similarly performed superbly off the back of his six-goal haul last week, finishing with four goals.
The 14th iteration of Dreamtime at the 'G brought in a whopping 81,046 supporters, and although the all-time crowd record wasn't broken, the largest margin between the two sides certainly was, with the previous record of 50 points in favour of Essendon in 2014 toppled considerably.
The Tiger Train was full steam ahead in the opening quarter with a blistering five-goal term to flatten the Bombers.and obliterate their confidence from the past two weeks.
In a sheer display of pure power, the Tigers swamped the visitors with immense pressure and forced numerous turnovers across their opposition's half-back line.
The opening two goals of the game from Callum Moore and Josh Caddy came from such turnovers, giving the reigning premiers a crucial lead to begin the momentous occasion.
With the Bombers flailing under the Richmond offensive and failing to capitalise on the shots on goal presented to them, the Tigers sensed the opportunity and pounced accordingly.
A further three goals from Brandon Ellis, Toby Nankervis and another from Caddy ballooned the margin out to 32 points as the Tigers threatened to maul their opposition without mercy.
Fittingly, Edwards was sublime at the 'G and carved up the Essendon midfield with his blistering run and superb work at ground level - both of which directly paved the way for several of Richmond's majors.
As if it couldn't get any worse for the Dons, David Zaharakis was driven into the dirt in a crunching Nankervis and Reece Conca tackle, injuring his shoulder in the process.
In clear distress as he left the field, Zaharakis soon had his shoulder iced, his jacket on, and watched the rest of the game from the sidelines.
There were fears the Bombers could be down to just two men on the bench before the first quarter had even ended, after Orazio Fantasia came up worse for wear following an awkward tackle.
Nevertheless, the fortunes favoured the Bombers in the latter stages of the term, with Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti slotting his side's first in the final seconds of the quarter to narrow the margin to 25 points at quarter-time.
McDonald-Tipungwuti's explosiveness was mirrored by Zach Merrett at the onset of the second term, with the latter booting the first of the game after 36 seconds had elapsed.
Despite Edwards clawing one back moments later, the Bombers managed to temporarily negate the Tigers' aggression, with their presence around the stoppages far more noticeable.
Jake Stringer performed well alongside fellow recruit Devon Smith throughout the term, finding themselves with plenty of contested ball.
As the returning Fantasia snapped his first through from the square, Jayden Laverde made it back-to-back majors for the Dons from the same position, perhaps beginning the start of a Essendon renaissance.
But in another show of strength, the Tigers destroyed all of Essendon's work for the quarter, kicking three consecutive goals through Edwards, Dustin Martin and Caddy.
The final burst from the away side - in which the Bombers failed to find a solid response - saw Richmond extend their margin to 31 points, leaving Essendon to ponder how they would tackle the Tiger juggernaut in the second half.
Richmond continued to steam ahead, much like the first half, opening with two quick goals to Jack Graham and Dan Butler.
The Tigers once again found themselves in control of the ball across the ground, transitioning the ball from the defensive to the forward half with close to little resistance.
Caddy was once again the backbone of the Richmond forward line. booting his fourth goal soon after to extend Richmond's margin and their unrivalled dominance.
Desperate to put up a fight, the Bombers, thanks to the efforts of McDonald- Tipungwuti, were able to reduce the margin after the goalsneak slotted through his second midway through the term.
But the Tigers were relentless, refusing to let Essendon get so much as an inch, with Butler providing an immediate reply and his second.
With outstanding defensive pressure and superb defensive efforts from Alex Rance, the Tigers could only surge ahead as they ended the term 64 points in front.
Rance however may come under scrutiny after the star defender milked for a free kick with an exaggerated dive down back - an action which ultimately worked in his favour much to the annoyance of the Essendon faithful.
While the scoring dried up in the final term - with Richmond kicking just two goals against Essendon's one - the pressure remained just the same, with the reigning premiers continuing their merciless offensive on the Bombers.
Devon Smith booted the first of the final term eight minutes into the quarter, but the Bombers missed vital opportunities to press forward soon after, with the Tigers outclassing them in every facet.
As Jack Riewoldt added his name to the scoresheet alongside Moore's second, the Tigers cemented what was a superb 71-point Dreamtime win, as the Bombers succumbed to another humiliating defeat for season 2018.
Richmond will be set for another blockbuster when they take on Port Adelaide on Friday night at Adelaide Oval, while Essendon will be looking to atone for their humiliating defeat against Brisbane next Sunday at the 'Gabba.
ESSENDON 1.3 4.5 5.6 6.7 (43)
RICHMOND 5.4 9.6 15.10 17.12 (114)
GOALS
Essendon: McDonald-Tipungwuti 2, Merrett, Fantasia, Smith, Laverde
Richmond: Caddy 4, Edwards 2, Moore 2, Nankervis 2, Butler 2, Graham, Menadue, Ellis, Riewoldt, Martin
BEST
Essendon: Smith, Stringer, Merrett, Heppell, Bellchambers, Saad
Richmond: Edwards, Caddy, Martin, Cotchin, Conca, Rance
INJURIES
Essendon: Zaharakis (shoulder)
Richmond: Nil
TALKING POINTS
1. TIGERS TAKE DELIGHT IN ESSENDON'S DREAMTIME DEBACLE
Although not in front of a record crowd, the Tigers sought to break records on their 14th outing at the annual Dreamtime at the 'G, dispatching the Bombers by a record 71 points.
Steamrolling their opposition in the opening half, Richmond piled on another six in the third term before their onslaught came to an uncharacteristic head in the fourth.
Regardless, the Tigers' attack on the ball never showed any signs of reprieve, with their stars in all areas in the ground putting together clinical displays to take their season to 9-2.
The same can't be said for Essendon, who in front of 81,046 supporters succumbed to their seventh loss of the season by extraordinary margins.
Unable to contend with the Tigers' tenacity, short work was quickly made of the home side, with their evening becoming even worse with an injury to David Zaharakis.
Next Sunday against Brisbane will be telling of where the Dons are.
2. SHEDDA PUTS ON A CLINIC
There's absolutely no doubt Shane Edwards tore Essendon to shreds with his fittingly exemplary performance at Dreamtime at the 'G.
The numbers speak for themselves - 30 disposals, 11 score involvements, five clearances, two goals - and with the Yiooken Award to boot, it really doesn't get much better for the Tiger.
Almost single-handedly, the Richmond midfielder dismantled Essendon's entire structure in what was his best game of the season to date.
Although usually not a high accumulator of possessions, Edwards' importance to the Richmond line-up remains unquestionable, with his clever ball use and tendency to attack pivotal in their successes.
Well deserved, Shedda.
3. ZAHARAKIS INJURY CONCERNS
As if Essendon's troubles couldn't get any worse, it looks David Zaharakis will have an extended spell on the sidelines after sustaining what is suspected to be a shoulder injury.
Zaharakis was ruled out of the game in the first term, after a crunching tackle from Toby Nankervis and Reece Conca forced him to land awkwardly on his unprotected shoulder.
Iced and rugged up by quarter-time, the signs don't bode well for the Bombers, who are also without Joe Daniher, Darcy Parish and Patrick Ambrose.
The 28-year-old had been one of Essendon's best players this season, dropping just one match under 25 disposals.
If the injury is as bad as initially feared, the Dons could be without their jet midfielder for up to two months.
Not what the doctor ordered.
4. EXTRA MAYO, PLEASE
Either Shaun McKernan has the strength of Superman, Alex Rance is made of feathers, or that was one almighty dive from the star defender - the latter seems to be the more feasible option.
As the ball flew towards McKernan, the Essendon forward easily bested Rance in the marking contest, who exaggerated the contact placed upon him by throwing himself forward.
Unconvincing as it looked, it nonetheless fooled the umpire and allowed the Tigers to clear the ball out of defence, much to the frustration of the already agitated Essendon armada.
Some may argue it's clever football to draw a free kick, but all in all, it's just not a good look for the game - or Rance.
Staging has to go.
5. CADDY JUST CONTINUES TO GROW
If there's one player for the Tigers who has taken his game to new heights, it's Josh Caddy, who is primed to be yet another premier forward of the competition.
With figures of 27.6 from nine matches, the 25-year-old recruit's goalkicking has been nothing short of remarkable, with tonight's four-goal bag putting him in equal fourth position on the Coleman leaderboard.
Presenting at the ball like a freight train and clunking everything which comes his way, Caddy's growth has been indicative of the quality side he is playing in.
Averaging three goals a game, expect that figure to climb as he continues to improve and find himself with ball in hand.
Who knows, Caddy could even be the one to end Jack Riewoldt's eight-season Michael Roach Medal streak...
Now what an achievement that would be.
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