Richmond's finals hopes alive and well after pulling off the great ...

Richmond has pulled off a remarkable win at the MCG to keep their finals chances well and truly alive, downing Hawthorn by one point after kicking the last five goals of the game.

Liam Baker is the hero for Tigers and potentially a finals saviour with Richmond back in the top eight, at least until Carlton’s win over West Coast is official.

The Tigers left their supporters tearing their hair out with an inability to finish early in the last term.

Six minutes into the final term, Hawthorn looked set to cause finals chaos when holding a 30-point lead.

But the Hawks wouldn’t kick a goal in the fourth term as Kamydyn McIntosh and Baker slammed home the final majors in the dying minutes. Given the Tigers' struggles in close games across the last 24 months, it's a win in the most unlikely fashion, but one that means everything to the club.

Earlier, a consecutive run of three goals in the opening term saw Hawthorn seize the early advantage, one that would be taken by Richmond earlier in the second term.

But a remarkable run of six majors broke the game open before the main break and established a lead that never looked like it would be reeled in.

The Tigers controlled more of the ball, won contested possessions and broke even in clearances against the Hawks.

But as they so often have in 2023, the Hawks found an attacking flair and carved up the MCG in asking questions Richmond had no answers to for the opening three terms.

Another masterstroke saw Finn Maginness limit Daniel Rioli to just six kicks, yet it wasn’t enough to prevent a brutal blow to Hawks fans as Rioli played an instrumental part in the final term.

James Sicily took 13 marks in defence and almost single-handedly dragged his side over the line as Richmond rained down inside 50s. The Hawks captain finished with 10 intercept marks, the equal most ever recorded.

But the Hawks, for all their hard work, remain bolted to the bottom four in 16th.

Damien Hardwick resigned just nine weeks ago, a moment where almost all hope was sapped from Richmond’s season.

But the Tigers now aren’t far from odds on to be led to September by their interim coach, with McQualter’s brand proving one that holds up when the pressure is on.