Two Richmond fans walk into a bar.

Usually this is either an opening line to a Tigers joke, or midway through the third quarter.

But at that point of their AFL match against Collingwood on Friday night, the Tigers were neither a joke nor driving fans to the MCG beer sellers with the game already lost.

Instead there was a tantalising glimpse of the Tigers' future, and also of how to beat the premiers as Richmond dominated the Magpies throughout the third quarter.

Midfielder Brett Deledio caught fire, and youngsters Reece Conca, Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin all burned brightly.

Then came a large black-and-white fire blanket.

Having had their lead cut from 50 points at halftime to 26 points by three-quarter-time, Collingwood regrouped, shifted gears, and won by 71 points,

Now unbeaten in their opening four matches this season, they finished the match every bit the juggernauts they started it as.

The Magpies had 14 individual goalkickers, and midfielder Dane Swan dominated with four goals and 33 disposals.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick wondered aloud how the margin had blown out so heavily when the game seemed set for a grandstand finish.

"We showed when we play good footy, when we win the ball and get it going our way, we're quite capable of matching it with the top sides," Hardwick said of the 24.17 (161) to 13.12 (90) defeat.

"(Collingwood) are probably five years ahead of us - they started their (rebuilding) process in 2005.

"The difference between a good side and a poor side is that their poor quarters don't result in nine goals, which is what happened in the last."

Every rival coach will examine a DVD of how the Tigers turned around their game at the stoppages, limited the impact of Collingwood's best players and looked the better side in the third term.

So too, you expect, will Mick Malthouse. The Collingwood coach admitted to being impressed with the Tigers, who are showing all the signs of evolution, if not yet revolution.

"Their maturity is progressing at a rate that I am sure Richmond will be happy with.

"They have got a very young side that will get better, and when they get their momentum, and when that shifts in particular, they are a very damaging side."

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