Richmond has taken their tally to 19 consecutive wins at the MCG, albeit by the slightest of margins, escaping with a three-point win against Geelong in a game which went right down to the wire.
While the Tigers were the better side all night and Geelong seemed gone for all money several times, the Cats hung in the contest, booting five goals in the final term before falling agonisingly short of victory.
Gary Ablett had a chance in the final minute to put his team in front, yet his shot on goal shied away to the right, preventing the Cats from snapping their opposition's record streak.
Tim Kelly was on fire for Geelong, piecing together arguably his greatest performance of the year with 36 disposals, while for the Tigers, Jack Riewoldt finished with four match-winning majors.
The Cats led the clearances (40-47) and contested possessions (188), yet the Tigers' manic press resulted in them handballing 90 times more than their opposition, forcing several turnovers which Richmond pounced on.
With both sides coming off emphatic wins last week, a win was paramount to continue their momentum heading into the pointy end of the season.
It was a battle to see who would take an early lead, and ultimately the Tigers emerged on top, booting four goals to two in the first quarter.
The Cats came out firing, their swift ball movement through the centre of the ground allowing Daniel Menzel to kick the first major of the term.
But Richmond’s defensive set-up prevented any significant scores for the next 20 minutes, with the combination of David Astbury and Alex Rance chopping off the visitors' ventures forward.
Although the Tigers found themselves up in the tackles (29-20) and intensifying the pressure through their repeat entries inside 50 (19-11), the Cats' defence held firm, with their ball use from the back half - primarily through Mark Blicavs - steering them out of trouble several times.
Yet the build-up of pressure eventually caused the Cats to crumble, allowing superstars Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin to bring Richmond back into the game with goals of their own.
Richmond dominated the ball from here on, and thanks to the efforts of a deft overhead tap from Riewoldt, Kane Lambert was able to slot the third goal in a row from the Tigers.
While the Cats coughed up numerous opportunities and teetered on the edge of over-handballing - a dangerous game to play against the Tigers - debutant Ryan Abbott proved his worth, putting through a crucial goal with his first kick to keep Geelong within the game.
One final goal from Riewoldt after the siren however put the Tigers 10 points in front heading into the second term.
Although the Tigers threatened to make the situation ugly for the Cats with the first two goals of the quarter, Chris Scott's men turned the tide with three late consecutive majors.
Despite trying to push through the Tigers defensive wall, Geelong couldn’t get a clean run into their forward 50.
It subsequently allowed Richmond to punish their opposition, with Toby Nankervis opening up proceedings for the second term, before the pressure and intensity from the Tigers resulted in another major score through Jack Higgins.
Lambert and Dustin Martin served as the backbone for Richmond’s dominance, with each covering plenty of ground, racking up plenty of ball and feeding the ball to their forwards with precision.
With the margin resting at a game-high 25 points midway through the term, Geelong looked all but gone, despite their ascendancy in the clearances and the prolific efforts of Tim Kelly.
But a trio of goals in the latter stages of the term through Kelly, Jack Henry and Sam Menegola breathed life back into the Cats, with their efforts slicing the margin back to just five points at half-time.
Richmond looked set to blow the game apart once again in the third, with two Geelong majors book-ending a four-goal blitz from the Tigers.
Although Geelong kicked things off with Menzel scoring his second for the game,the Tigers quickly replied through Castagna and Kamdyn McIntosh to put them once again in the lead.
Despite only having three disposals up until three-quarter time, Riewoldt was a massive influence in Richmond’s forward 50, finishing the term with seven score assists and a goal to boot.
With the Tiger onslaught showing no signs of reprieve, Geelong lost their momentum again, allowing the yellow and black army to take advantages and score at every possible opportunity.
Blicavs however was the saving grace for Geelong, preventing Dustin Martin and Riewoldt from completely taking over thanks to his superb efforts in the defensive half.
Just when it seemed all over for the Cats, Abbott did it again, keeping his side alive with his second goal, despite the Tigers holding on to a 21-point lead at the final change.
With the two sides highly regarded for their final quarters, it would ultimately be Geelong who came out on top, with a blistering five-goal display almost toppling the mighty Tigers on their home turf.
Zach Tuohy was the man to provide the magic and kickstart the Cats' run home, with his goal alongside Menzel's third trimming the margin down to just 10 points.
As Riewoldt slotted his fourth moments later, Sam Lloyd's follow-up goal appeared to be the sealer as Geelong steadily ran out of legs and were unable to keep pace with the rampaging Tigers.
But last-gasp goals to Tom Hawkins and Cameron Guthrie brought the Cats back within the hunt against all odds, and as Menegola slotted another, Geelong found themselves just four points down with a minute and a half to spare.
Although Ablett's strike on goal with a minute left on the clock could have been the match-winner, his shot sailed through the behinds, keeping Richmond's streak alive as they took out a narrow three-point victory.
Richmond will head up north in eight days to take on the struggling Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, while Geelong will be in for another massive encounter when they face Hawthorn next Saturday at the MCG.
RICHMOND 4.2 6.6 10.11 12.13 (85)
GEELONG 2.4 5.7 7.8 12.10 (82)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Castagna 2, Townsend, Cotchin, Higgins, McIntosh, Nankervis, Lloyd
Geelong: Menzel 3, Menegola 2, Abbott 2, Kelly, Henry, Tuohy, Guthrie, Hawkins
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Lambert, Martin, Riewoldt, Nankervis, Astbury
Geelong: Kelly, Dangerfield, Selwood, Duncan, Blicavs, Menegola
INJURIES
Richmond: Nil
Geelong: Stanley (TBC) replaced in the selected side by Thurlow, Bews (shoulder)
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