Reigning premiers Richmond have revelled in the chaos to beat Hawthorn by 31 points and move to within one win of the AFL grand final.
The Hawks were game in Thursday night's qualifying final at the MCG, but they were left rueing early lost opportunities as the Tigers kicked clear in the third term and won 13.17 (95) to 9.10 (64).
The much-anticipated opening final attracted a bumper crowd of 91,446, despite the wet weather - making a mockery of some local concerns that the match was scheduled on Thursday and not Friday night.
After indifferent form over the last few weeks of the regular season, the Tigers were back to their manic best in September.
The wet conditions and relentless pressure meant it was not a great spectacle, but Richmond thrived and eventually broke the Hawks.
"It felt like a Richmond game ... it certainly looked like a Richmond game," said Tigers coach Damien Hardwick.
"It's funny, you win 18 games, but I was probably looking for what you guys were looking for - thinking, is it there?
"The thing we've probably found this year is we can respond when we need to.
"They all stand up and respond."
Richmond star Dustin Martin celebrated his 200-game milestone with a best-afield performance that featured an outstanding snapped goal in the second term from deep in a pocket.
Teammate Daniel Rioli also snapped a freakish goal early in the match.
By contrast, Hawks stars Shaun Burgoyne and Luke Breust - two of their most reliable players - missed simple set shots in the first half.
Richmond led by 14 points at half time when the Hawks easily could have been in front.
It was a brutal opening half that featured a whopping 94 tackles, 50 to Richmond and 44 to the Hawks.
Richmond sealed the contest with five goals to two in the third term for their 22nd consecutive win at the MCG.
After finishing top, the Tigers have the week off, while Hawks go into a sudden-death semi-final against the winners of Friday's Melbourne-Geelong elimination final.
Adding to Hawthorn's woes, star defender Ben Stratton went off in the third term and ended the game with ice on his right hamstring.
"Stratton has something to do with a hamstring - I don't know whether it's tightness, a strain, a tear or whatever it is," said Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson.
Star defender Alex Rance sent a scare through Richmond with a sore foot at three-quarter time, but he played out the game.
Clarkson noted that his side had 12 more possessions, but lost the inside 50s by a whopping 67 to 37.
"In games like that, you need to take your chances," he said.
"But really, the game was won or loss in the intent, in terms of them being prepared to take the ground more than we were."
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