Essendon has solidified its top-two spot, outlasting a plucky Richmond by 12 points in the 20th Dreamtime at the 'G clash.

After a month of sub-50 scores, the Tigers were much improved, but the Bombers were far more clinical for most of the match, sewing up the 12.14 (86) to 10.14 (74) result.

Richmond certainly had its chances, kicking four behinds to open the final term, but hard-running Essendon skipper Zach Merrett rose to the occasion, crumbing beautifully and kicking truly to score the opening goal of the quarter, a whopping 18 minutes into the period.

TIGERS v BOMBERS Full match coverage and stats

The word "thumping" doesn't quite cover Richmond's past two losses by a cumulative 210 points, so Tiger fans would have been thrilled with basic competitiveness, let alone still being in the game in the final few minutes.

Jake Stringer celebrated game 200 with four goals and was the clear difference in the match, while Dustin Martin thrilled fans with a sterling return to form.

Essendon looked to be the better team with a more even spread of talent across the park, particularly given Richmond's lengthy injury list, but you never want to write off a team with Bolton and Martin.

With Liam Baker returning after two weeks off with a corked leg and adding some much-needed grunt around the stoppages, the pair received more regular ball into attack, and had the Bomber defenders on their toes for most of the night.

A free kick and then a 50m penalty – both touchy decisions – resulted in consecutive Bombers goals in the second, defender Jordan Ridley celebrating his first game of the season after quad issues with a rare major.

Ridley was simply superb on return – taking home the Yiooken Award for best-afield – relishing the rushed forward 50 entries from the Tigers, as did teammates Jayden Laverde and Mason Redman, the trio controlling the uncontested play and comfortably winning the aerial battle.

Kyle Langford was uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, but sprang to life in the third term, kicking two crucial goals, the second with just three seconds remaining in the quarter. He also sealed the result with a steady set shot late in the game.

Bomber Nik Cox was subbed off at quarter-time due to hamstring tightness.

Stringer stars at his own party
We've seen some special moments from Jake Stringer so far during his career, and he started his 200th game in style, booting three goals in the first term alone. They were all different – a curling set shot from the pocket, a deadly drop punt from the opposing side of the ground, and a long-distance bomb. His class was too much for the Richmond backline to handle.

Full clubs celebrate Dreamtime
Both teams included their injured and unselected Indigenous players in the now-traditional pre-match war cry, with Rhyan Mansell, Maurice Rioli jnr, Matt Coulthard, Jayden Davey and Tex Wanganeen joining their teammates on the field. The Bombers players were draped in traditional cloaks and held spears while representatives danced, and the Indigenous men from both sides came together in the middle of the field. In the game itself, Marlion Pickett kicked a third-term goal, pulling aside his jumper at the arm and pointing to his chest, echoing Nicky Winmar's legendary action.

RICHMOND     3.3     6.7     9.10     10.14     (74)
ESSENDON      3.3     7.7     10.12     12.14     (86) 

GOALS
Richmond: Martin 3, Lefau 2, Bolton 2, McIntosh, Pickett, Ralphsmith
Essendon: Stringer 4, Langford 3, Hind 2, A.Davey jnr, Ridley, Merrett 

BEST
Richmond: Prestia, Martin, Baker, D. Rioli, Nankervis, Ralphsmith
Essendon: Ridley, Stringer, Merrett, Langford, Laverde 

INJURIES
Richmond: Bolton (head knock)
Essendon: Cox (hamstring) 

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Steely Green (replaced Bolton in the fourth term)
Essendon: Elijah Tsatas (replaced Nik Cox at quarter-time) 

Crowd: 79,359 at the MCG