Jordan McMahon, the man Richmond fans just love to hate, has turned hero after living out every schoolboy's dream with a winning goal after the final siren against Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
The Tigers looked to have blown their hopes of winning successive games for the first time this season after late goals to impressive Demons' youngsters Jack Grimes and Ricky Petterd had seen Melbourne come from eight points down to hit the front with just a minute and 40 seconds remaining.
But with just six seconds remaining, Richard Tambling - another much-maligned Tiger who has been in magnificent form since Jade Rawlings took over as caretaker coach in Round 12 - somehow manage to fight his way out of heavy traffic and find McMahon with a pinpoint pass with the siren sounding as the ex-Bulldog lined up his shot from 50 metres out directly in front.
McMahon, whose constant turnovers by foot have made him a constant target for long-suffering Tigers' fans since he joined the club at the start of last season, then calmly ignored the pressure to give Richmond a thrilling a 12.14 (86) to 12.10 (82) victory.
Ironically McMahon, who was very much seen as a favourite of discredited former coach Terry Wallace who was axed at the end of Round 11, had been the villain once again of Richmond fans earlier in the game when he missed two easy shots on the run in the second term.
Not that any kick for goal was easy on a day when a strong swirling wind made conditions difficult - making McMahon's shot after the final siren even more impressive.
Defeat was tough on the last-placed Demons, who performed superbly all day despite the late withdrawal of one of their best young players in Cale Morton.
In particular the impressive Grimes and Petterd had reason to be disappointed as not only were they their team's best players all day but their late goals looked to have given the Demons a shock victory.
The Demons also beat Richmond earlier in the season but had not beaten any team twice in the same season since beating Carlton twice in 2007.
For the Tigers it meant successive wins for the first time since winning the last three games of last season but while this win gives caretaker coach Rawlings an impressive three wins and a draw from seven matches in charge, this was a far cry from last week's shock five point win over eighth placed Essendon.
For much of the day the Tigers looked flat, made constant turnovers and lacked targets in attack although their defence - led brilliantly by captain Chris Newman - held up well for most of the game.
While the Demons would be deservedly guttered after having seen a rare win snatched away from them right at the death, the loss keeps the club in contention for a priority draft pick before the first round of this year's national draft even if they beat Fremantle in Round 20.
And while you could hardly question the motives of the valiant Melbourne players Melbourne coach Dean Bailey certainly kept the AFL's tanking debate alive with some strange moves in the final quarter.
Ruckman Paul Johnson was stationed in defence while key forwards Brad Miller and Michael Newton at times found themselves in the centre square as regular defenders James Frawley and Matthew Warnock were in attack although Warnock did give the Demons' plenty of life in his unusual role.
MELBOURNE: 2.0, 4.3, 8.7, 12.10 (82)
RICHMOND: 1.5, 4.8, 7.10, 12.14 (86)
GOALS: Melbourne: Dunn 2, Miller 2, Petterd 2, Bate, Newton, Davey, Jetta, Jones, Grimes
Richmond: Brown 3, Vickery 2, Morton 2, Riewoldt, Nahas, Hislop, Deledio, McMahon
BEST: Melbourne: Grimes, Petterd, McDonald, Cheney, Dunn, Miller, Warnock
Richmond: Cousins, Newman, Deledio, King, McMahon, Tambling, Brown, McGuane
INJURIES: Melbourne: Martin (calf), Bennell (knee), Whelan (foot)
Richmond: Nil
UMPIRES: Farmer, James, Keating
REPORTS: Melbourne: Davey reported for wrestling King by field umpire James in the first quarter.
Richmond: King reported for wrestling Davey by field umpire James in the first quarter
CHANGES: Melbourne: Morton (ill) replaced in selected side by Spencer
CROWD: 37,448 at MCG