Richmond overcame injuries and a half-time deficit to post another stirring AFL win and inflict a major blow on top-four aspirant Fremantle on Saturday night at Etihad Stadium.

Down by 11 points at the major break and with two players gone for the game, the Tigers responded with the only three goals of the third term and held firm in a titanic last quarter to prevail 15.10 (100) to 11.15 (81).

Jack Riewoldt kicked five goals to take his season tally to 58, putting him further ahead on the league's goal-kicking chart, while young gun Dustin Martin capped a great game with a banana kick goal on the run when the game was in the balance.

Richmond's win was their fourth in succession and came after they stormed home to beat Sydney at the MCG last Sunday.

The Dockers missed a golden chance to shore up their spot in the top four and left them still with some work to do if they are to earn the double chance in the finals.

Richmond began brightly by holding their own in a shoot-out of a first quarter, but were reduced to 20 men in the second term when forward Ben Griffiths hurt a shoulder and onballer Ben Nason was cut across the cheek when he collided heads with teammate Jake King.

While the Richmond bench resembled a pit crew, the Dockers pounced with the last two goals of the half.

But where the Richmond of six weeks ago would have wilted, these Tigers regained their energy and dash and added goals through Riewoldt and Matt White, even though he suffered a poke in the eye in the celebrations.

In a frantic final quarter Fremantle drew level but squandered their chances when Aaron Sandilands and Stephen Hill missed regulation set shots midway through the quarter.

Riewoldt broke the deadlock with a goal after being awarded a free and 50-metre penalty because of an infringement on the Fremantle bench, as Hayden Ballantyne incorrectly ran outside the interchange line.

Martin and Andrew Collins followed up with goals in a magnificent win for Richmond, given they also had Jeromey Webberley (leg) and Angus Graham, poleaxed in two bumps, sore on the bench.

Daniel Connors, Daniel Jackson and skipper Chris Newman were also great for the Tigers, while Matthew Pavlich and Kepler Bradley (three goals each) and Sandilands in the ruck were Fremantle's best.

But Jackson's game was marred through a report in an off-the-ball incident involving Ballantyne, which resulted in a 50-metre penalty and a goal to Adam McPhee.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the Dockers paid a heavy price for their missed set shots and mistakes.

"We had a couple of issues, goal kicking was one of them, missed tackles was another and turnovers by hand or foot," he said.

"Richmond lost one or two players before halftime but we allowed them to get back into the game through those three things."

Richmond said Griffiths had hurt his right shoulder and would be assessed next week, while Nason had suffered blurred vision.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick was thrilled his side beat a side vying for the premiership, and the fight his players showed.

"I thought it was testament to our playing group, the bravery they showed to be down two troops before halftime," he said.

"It was just outstanding in the end, the mental strength to get through that was very, very good.

"So full credit to our guys."

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