A Dustin Martin masterclass has propelled Richmond to a 35-point win over North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
The Tigers superstar was brilliant throughout but elevated his game even higher in a blistering six-goals-to-one third-quarter that set up the 14.17 (101) to 9.12 (66) win on Saturday night.
If Martin is the target of a North Melbourne free agency poaching raid, as has been widely reported, the Kangaroos will need to up their offer on the evidence of his 38-possession, two-goal game.
North couldn't combat the bullocking midfielder's trademark strength, but Martin also wowed the 36,100-strong crowd with breathtaking disposal by foot.
As good as the Tigers were in the pivotal third term, the Roos were equally bad.
Brad Scott's side imploded with three 50m penalties and a free kick gifting Richmond scores as they turned a two-point half-time deficit into a decisive 28-point lead at three-quarter time.
While Martin starred, he had ample support from captain Trent Cotchin, Dion Prestia, Bachar Houli and Brandon Ellis - who all had 30-plus possessions.
Jamie MacMillan, Jack Ziebell and Sam Gibson were important as the Roos took it up to the Tigers in a scrappy first half.
Robbie Tarrant caught the eye in defence but was also a key transgressor as the Kangaroos shot themselves in the foot with an ill-disciplined start to the second half.
Richmond head into their bye round in fourth spot with a 7-4 record, while North are languishing in 13th with four wins and seven losses.
Martin surely added another three Brownlow votes to his bulging tally with the stellar performance, but coach Damien Hardwick was also thrilled with Cotchin's output.
"It was a pretty impressive game," Hardwick said of Martin.
"I thought Trent, our captain, was also outstanding as well.
"His pressure ... he had 11 tackles, and his physicality around the contest, his possessions at crucial stages were good.
"And Dustin's just had a wonderful season thus far.
"We know those guys are really quality players.
"We expect them to play well in big games and they did tonight."
Scott saw few redeeming features in North's performance despite their half-time lead.
"It wasn't a good night for us at any stage of the game," Scott said.
"We were really disappointed with the way that we were playing at half-time and we didn't get the spike that we expected (after the break).
"We got the opposite in that first three-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter."
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