Round 3, 2002
Richmond vs Melbourne
Saturday 13 April
Venue: MCG
Attendance: 37,514
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Final | |
| Richmond | 3.4 | 6.6 | 8.11 | 13.18.96 |
| Melbourne | 2.4 | 5.5 | 10.6 | 11.10.76 |
Richmond win by 20 points
Goalkickers: Brad Green 2, Peter Vardy 2, Paul Wheatley 2, Steven Armstrong 1, Cameron Bruce 1, Andrew Leoncelli 1, David Neitz 1, Adem Yze 1
Brownlow votes:
1 - Andrew Leoncelli
Milestones:
Rising Star nomination - Steven Armstrong
50 Games
Travis Johnstone
Attempting to knock off their third 2001 finalist in a row to start the season the Demons fell a quarter short as Richmond stormed home with a five goal to one last quarter to win comfortably. David Neitz claimed his second victim for the year when he clashed with Rory Hilton in a ruck contest, but the injury helped inspire the Tigers to run over the top in the last term. The Demons were playing their third game in 12 days and were physically shot in the final 30 minutes.
Brad Green and Peter Vardy had booted two goals each in the third quarter to give their side the lead, but when Jeff White botched a handball across the goalmouth which allowed the Tigers to kick a goal and take the lead early in the last it was the beginning of the end for the Demons. Wayne Campbell helped himself to 18 touches for the term as Richmond put the Melbourne goalmouth under siege.
Yze, Bizzell and Armstrong were Melbourne's best. Travis Johnstone missed the second half with an adductor muscle injury.
Neale Daniher said "Today was a tough game for the Melbourne footy club. I thought they really fought back, our boys, to be six points up at three quarter time, but then obviously we were overrun in the last quarter. We just didn't have the freshness in the legs that we've been able to show the last two weeks."
Media
Age - 14/04/2002