Richmond have returned to the winners' circle with an unconvincing 12-point victory over a gutsy Greater Western Sydney in wet conditions at SKODA Stadium.
The Tigers dominated almost every statistical category in the first half but when the Giants kicked the first two goals of the third term, the contest was all locked up at 43 apiece.
Richmond responded with three straight majors to lead by 19 at the final break, but their hopes of a comfortable victory were dashed when the Giants kicked three in a row to start the fourth quarter to close within a goal.
But after the Tigers started the final term with six consecutive behinds, Daniel Connors finally found the target twice in two minutes to seal an 11.20 (86) to 12.2 (74) victory.
Jack Riewoldt kicked three goals for the visitors after battling an ankle injury during the week, while Connors also finished with three majors.
Brett Deledio (31 disposals, one goal) was superb for the Tigers while Shane Tuck (29) and Ivan Maric (34 hitouts, 16 possessions) also made solid contributions.
Number one draft pick Jonathon Patton didn't look out of place in his first AFL appearance for the hosts, kicking a goal and earning seven touches on debut.
Jeremy Cameron was the Giants' best, kicking three goals and laying four tackles while Toby Greene (two goals, 24 touches) and Tom Scully (20) were also good.
It was all Richmond early but the visitors had to wait 13 minutes for their first goal, with Daniel Jackson doing the honours from close range.
Riewoldt found the target a minute later before GWS veteran James McDonald steadied things with a goal from the hosts' first trip inside 50.
The first of two goals for the term from Shane Edwards restored Richmond's early buffer before Patton injected himself into the contest.
The 19-year-old took his first AFL mark in the 25th minute, grabbed another 30 seconds later and calmly went back and kicked his first senior goal from 15m out directly in front in a promising sign for the Giants.
GWS made a lightning start to the second term, kicking two goals in as many minutes to cut the deficit to two points.
Deledio answered with a long-range effort early in the term before the contest descended into an ugly slog in the wet and slippery conditions.
Tigers forward Trent Cotchin broke the standoff with a late goal, but Rhys Palmer had the final say of the half with his first major to drag the hosts within two straight kicks at the long break.
The Giants flew out of the blocks to start the second half, kicking two goals in the first six minutes of the third term to level the scores
That stung the Tigers into action as the visitors booted three consecutive majors – including two to Riewoldt – to lead by three goals at the final change.
Greater Western Sydney: 2.0, 5.1, 8.1, 12.2 (74)
RICHMOND: 4.2, 6.7, 9.14, 11.20 (86)
GOALS: GWS: Cameron 3, Greene 2, Palmer 2, McDonald, Patton, Phillips, Shiel, Shulz,
RICHMOND: Riewoldt 3, Connors 3, Edwards 2, Jackson, Deledio, Cotchin,
BEST: GWS: Scully, Cameron, Greene, Brogan,
RICHMOND: Deledio, Riewoldt, Tuck, Maric, Cotchin,
INJURIES: GWS: Nil
RICHMOND: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: GWS forward Nick Haynes (groin) replaced in 22 by Mark Whiley.
UMPIRES: Stevic, Kamolins, Mitchell,
CROWD: 7,358 at SKODA Stadium