Toby Greene has faced Richmond in front of far more people in games with far more on the line, but that didn’t stop the Giant’s captain from producing a vintage performance on Sunday.
Four goals and four goal assists was the match-winning performance the Giants needed to make another move up the ladder to seventh position by defeating the Tigers by 24 points at the MCG.
But it was far from convincing against the side stuck on the bottom of the ladder as they recorded a 17.6 (108) to 12.12 (84) victory.
They weren’t home until veteran Callan Ward kicked a goal in time to end a gutsy fourth-quarter fightback from the Tigers.
Jesse Hogan made the most of his chances to convert four goals and move within four goals of Carlton in the Coleman Medal race.
Tom Green amassed plenty of leather, as he has all season, finishing with 37 disposals and seven tackles, while Lachie Whitfield accumulated 35 touches, including 21 kicks.
Despite having only two wins on the board and facing a first wooden spoon since 2007, Richmond showed up on Sunday but didn’t have the goods to trouble the Giants.
When Hogan wove through traffic, the margin was soon 20 points and the Giants had a buffer, responding every time the Tigers countered.
The Giants next take on the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday from 1.45pm at Engie Stadium.
Giants topple tigers in hard-fought fight
THE GWS Giants have claimed a hard-fought, 24-point victory over the Tigers at the MCG.