The disappointing loss to Carlton had made this into that most dreaded of all games, a 'crunch' game. 'Crunch' games are those games that you just HAVE to win if the club is to make the finals. This was the last scenario Richmond would have wanted, a MUST win game away from home. This is a side that is not good on the road, has big injuries and historically struggle in the second half of the season.

Stafford and Tivendale were left out due to injury, Hilton was omitted. Rookie Nathan Foley and draftee Adam Pattison came in for their 3rd and 2nd matches respectively. Darren Gaspar came back in after spendiong two weeks out with injury. Hilton came back into the selected side replacing Mark Graham who had a back niggle.

The game started at a quick pace with Fremantle forward Matthew Pavlich bagging a goal and looking dangerous. Chris Hyde replied by running onto a Brett Deledio pass, stiff arming an opponent and banging a goal through. The game became defensive for most of the first quarter with Richmond playing hard attacking football and capitalising on Docker mistakes. The Tigers took a one point lead into the first break. For a supporter the frustrating thing about this was knowing that a similar display against Carlton the previous week would have set up a good win instead of what would ultimately prove to be a season ending loss.

Fremantle settled a little in the 2nd quarter, but Matthew Richardson was causing plenty of headaches, as were Joel Bowden, curiously unmanned and the exciting Brett Deledio. Some Fremantle players were becoming frustrated and the match threatened to boil over.

The 3rd quarter was the boil over. A melee erupted in the middle of the field with Troy Simmonds and Ray Hall flying the flag for the Tigers and showing some much needed aggression. Although it was mostly push and shove, there was a clear message sent to the Dockers and any other opponent: mess with the Tigers at your own peril, these Tigers bite! Unfortunately the fight also unsettled many of the younger Richmond players and this was where the Dockers took the ascendancy.

Although Richmond didn't lay down in the last quarter twice coming back from what the Dockers thought were winning goals ultimately the Dockers class won out over Richmond's grit and there will be some easy misses and poor decisions rued in the aftermath of the game.

Player review:

1. Rory Hilton, played mostly in defence and whilst he wasn't disgraced, nor did he show anything to suggest that he'd be putting himself forward for selection, barring injury the following week.

2. Darren Gaspar, returning from an injury and it showed. Slow, indecisive and disposal skills were worse than usual. He'll be better for the run.

3. Brett Deledio, I am amazed at this kid week after week. If he doesn't win the Rising Star then the judges are blind. We are witnessing the birth of a superstar.

5. Troy Simmonds, he was better in the ruck, but still dropped easy marks and missed gettable goals.It's simply not acceptable at this level.

9. Wayne Campbell, he has been given 2 weeks to make the decision whether to retire at seasons end or go on. The longer the decision takes the less likely he is to retire and there is no reason for him to the way he is playing.

11. Joel Bowden, either Fremantle don't have any one to match up on him or they don't respect him. He was left without an opponent for most of the game and consequently picked up a heap of possessions, set up play from defence and kicked 2 goals.

12. Matthew Richardson, absolutely dissected oppoenent Shane Parker, hauling down 9 marks. If only he could kick accurately. His misses were costly.

13. Trent Knobel, seems to have plateaued after good early season form. Not a game he'll want to remember.

15. Kayne Pettifer, MIA in the first half. Bobbed up in the 2nd for 3 goals, but has to play consistently over the entire course of the game.

17. Kane Johnson, worked hard, but is starting to show the effects of a long, hard season.

20. Ray Hall, although Pavlich kicked 4 goals at least 2 of them were lucky and most observers agreed that Ray won the contest.

21. Shane Tuck, one of the Tigers best, requires more assistance in the midfield to enhance his value.

24. Mark Coughlan, tough as they come, but the combination of osteitis pubis and a limited pre season are starting to take their toll.

26. Adam Pattison, only the big draftees second game, he wasn't disgraced, but it is obvious that there's a long way to go yet.

27. Andrew Krakouer, another one who came to life in the 2nd half, but even then was not damaging enough.

30. Richard Tambling, did a hammy early, got it worked on and came back, but never got the tempo of the game and for a man believed to be so quick, he looked awfully slow.

31. Chris Hyde, did the hard tagging work, but did not have enough help.

33. Brent Hartigan, played mostly in the midfield and didn't do too badly, unfortunately will be best remembered for two very poor decisions that ruined chances at goal.

35. Chris Newman, in my opinion one of the best for the Tigers, regularly stripped opponents of the ball and drive Richmond back into attack.

36. Will Thursfield, played both forward and back, learning on the job, but is picking it up well and remains an exciting prospect.

40. Kelvin Moore, spent a lot of his game time at full forward. I can see what Wallace wants to do: Moore at full forward, Pattison at centre half forward, but it's about a year away from working.

41. Nathan Foley, good young player, dangerous with his disposal and very tough for a player his size.