Richmond has survived a stirring Melbourne fightback to narrowly win their twilight clash by 22 points at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

The Tigers led by 38 points at half-time thanks to a withering eight-goal burst in the second term before the Demons launched their own counterattack in the third quarter to draw within 19 points at the final change.

And when Melbourne ruckman Jeff White and then speed machine Aaron Davey goaled early in the last quarter to amazingly bring the margin back to eight points, the game was there for the taking.

For a while in the last term, it looked like the Demons would pull off their second miraculous come-from-behind win for the season - after defeating Fremantle in Round 7 after trailing by 50 points at half-time - but Richmond proved a little too polished in the end to run out 16.20 (116) to 14.10 (94) winners.

Led by star forward Matthew Richardson, who booted five goals to move to equal second on Richmond's all-time goal-kicking list alongside Kevin Bartlett, and Nathan Brown in his 200th match, the Tigers managed to hold on and give coach Terry Wallace a stay of execution for at least another week.

Richardson was superb all over the ground, gathering 21 touches and raking in 18 marks in another best-on-ground performance.

Brown provided a perfect foil up forward with three goals from 21 possessions, while Brett Deledio's (29 disposals) run and dash also proved crucial in the final wash-up.

Paul Wheatley (29) and Brock McLean (28) showed grunt and hardness for Melbourne, while Cameron Bruce gave his team an early spark and ended up with 29 disposals, 10 marks and two goals.

The Demons looked far from a bottom side in the opening term with their run and finishing as good as at any time this season as they piled on five goals, with only two late goals from Richardson deep in time-on saving Richmond from a bigger margin.

The second-quarter turnaround was even more stunning with the Tigers slamming on eight goals to blow the game wide open and turn a 16-point deficit early in the term to a 38-point lead at the break.

In fact, Melbourne failed to score at all after the five-minute mark of the term allowing Richmond to take a strangehold on proceedings.

But just as Richmond looked like running away with it, the Demons stormed back into the match with five goals to two in the third term, thanks largely to Davey who kicked two goals, including one after taking a contender for mark of the year.

White and Davey goaled early in the last term to draw their side within eight points before a desperate Richmond sealed the match when Brown snapped his third goal for the night.

Mitch Morton and Shane Tuck then added the icing on the cake in what was a solid, if not spectacular, victory.

Richmond's fourth victory eclipses last year's three wins and keeps it in touch with the top eight at the halfway mark of the season.

RICHMOND: 3.6, 11.13, 13.15, 16.20 (116)
MELBOURNE: 5.3, 6.5, 11.8, 14.10 (94)

GOALS: Richmond: Richardson 5, Brown 3, Hyde, Polak, White, Cotchin, Moore, Simmonds, Morton, Tuck
Melbourne: Miller 3, Davey 2, Bruce 2, Bartram 2, Garland, Green, White, Wonaeamirri, Bate
BEST: Richmond: Richardson, Deledio, Brown, Tuck, Foley
Melbourne: Wheatley, McLean, Bruce, Jones
INJURIES: Richmond: Nil
Melbourne: Nil
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Sully, Nicholls, Ryan
CROWD: 27,348 at Telstra Dome

Sportal AFL Player of the Year votes:
3. M Richardson (Richmond)
2. B Deledio (Richmond)
1. N Brown (Richmond)