Richmond conjured a win over Fremantle as tissue-thin as the AFL finals hopes they kept alive, sneaking home by seven points at the MCG.

The Tigers flirted with disaster all day against a weakened Dockers side, trailing at every change before finally taking the upper hand in the final term for a 15.15 (105) to 15.8 (98) win.

Even without spearhead Matthew Pavlich, a late withdrawal with a foot injury, an undermanned Fremantle spent the best part of three quarters looking likely to finish off the Tigers' hopes of playing in September.

It took two Matthew Richardson goals and a huge 50-metre major from Chris Newman early in the fourth term to break the game open Richmond's way.

But after opening up a 20-point margin when Jay Schulz kicked a super goal on the run, the Tigers then went wobbly at the knees as Fremantle came at them inside the final two minutes.

Docker Mark Johnson kicked his third goal after Tigers defender Will Thursfield gave away a free-kick directly in front to bring the margin back to eight points, then a Ryan Crowley attempt at goal went agonising wide for a behind.

Mitch Morton finished with three goals for the Tigers, while onballer Shane Tuck was clearly best-afield.

Tuck racked up 31 possessions and, unlike most of his Richmond teammates, was a factor for all four quarters.

"We didn't think we played well, we had a lot of senior players down ... but in the last quarter our boys found a way to win which was the most important thing," Tigers coach Terry Wallace said.

"I know they got close to us at the end but we came from seven points down at three-quarter time and got ourselves three goals ahead - that was a pretty fair turnaround."

The Tigers now sit on 42 points with one home-and-away match remaining, but must rely on other results going their way this weekend if they hope to sneak into the top eight.

Fremantle were already out of finals contention and remain in the bottom four.

But controversial Dockers forward Jeff Farmer may have damaged his hopes of gaining a renewed contract for next season after another ill-disciplined act with the scores deadlocked in the third quarter.

Farmer gave away a free-kick for alleged use of the knees on Tigers youngster Shane Edwards, then conceded a 50-metre penalty for abusing the umpire.

That gave Morton a shot directly in front of goal which put the Tigers six points in front at a crucial stage of the match.

Dockers coach Mark Harvey said the incident would not affect the club's decision on whether or not to retain the 31-year-old for one more season.

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