Even Richmond's fairytale win could not mask Jade Rawlings' disappointment at a dire performance against bottom side Melbourne in Sunday's AFL game at the MCG.

Jordan McMahon's goal after the siren, from 45 metres out in front, earned the Tigers a four-point win, 12.14 (86) to 12.10 (82), which was a memorable end to a forgettable game.

McMahon kicked truly after marking a centred pass from teammate Richard Tambling just seconds before the final siren.

The post-siren result - which had no bearing on the top eight - was the second in as many rounds, after Geelong's Jimmy Bartel kicked a behind to sink Hawthorn last weekend.

But where that score capped a great Cats comeback, McMahon's major could not hide caretaker coach Rawlings' sobering realisation the Tigers had almost taken a step backwards from their recent encouraging form.

"It should be euphoric, after the game it should have been one of the greatest wins you've ever had," Rawlings said.

"But unfortunately, because we couldn't play the way that we'd become accustomed to playing in the last six weeks, you don't even scratch the surface with it.

"They (Melbourne) still had a crack, they hit us up pretty well and forced us into errors.

"... but the fact there's a bit of positive press and some blokes starting to get some articles (written about them) and things are going along OK ... you don't know how ingrained that sort of comfort is."

Melbourne coach Dean Bailey also endured his share of mixed feelings, as he did not see the deciding kick because he walked out of the coaches box thinking his side had the game won.

"I thought we'd won the game with five or six seconds to go," Bailey said.

"Then it went to fullback and I heard the roar and McMahon's kicked a goal ... it's not often you get beaten with three or four seconds to go."

Richmond led by 11 points entering time-on, but Melbourne hit the front through goals to youngsters Jack Grimes, who marked a Richmond kick-in and then unloaded from 50 metres, and Ricky Petterd, who ran on to a thump forward by teammate Clint Bartram.

Petterd's goal put the Demons two points up with 100 seconds remaining, but the Tigers regained possession and brought the ball into attack along the boundary in the final passage, and Tambling had the poise to find a teammate inboard.

McMahon marked just before the siren sounded, and as he lined up thought more about making up for his gaffed shots earlier in the game than about fulfilling the childhood dream.

"I just thought this was an opportunity to kick a goal from my two mistakes early on," he said.

"It was obviously still there, the idea of winning the game, but honestly it was put aside, to kick a goal, to make up for those mistakes."

McMahon's emotion afterwards was relief, and that was shared by Rawlings.

"I thought we were gone," he said.

"Tambling had good composure to get it to McMahon, but we did everything we could to make it hard for ourselves and lose, so it was good for the players and our supporters to go home having seen this one."

Richmond's best included midfielders Ben Cousins, Brett Deledio and Tambling and Nathan Brown (three goals), while Melbourne's best were skipper James McDonald, Aaron Davey and Grimes.

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