A LACKLUSTRE Hawthorn has fallen to a determined Richmond side by 29 points at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.

The Hawks failed to recover from a stuttering start that saw the Tigers lead by as much as 21 points in the first term, and went down 16.9 (105) to 10.16 (76).

It was the Hawks' third loss in five weeks, and the first time they have been defeated by the Tigers since round 21, 2005.

The Hawks also join the Western Bulldogs and Sydney as clubs that were in the top four ahead of this round to lose just three weeks from the finals.

Lance 'Buddy' Franklin entered the match needing nine goals to reach the coveted milestone of 100 in a season. With perfectly still and dry conditions, Buddy had five shots in the first term alone – for a return of two goals – and looked a chance to achieve the ton in front of the MCG crowd.

But, while the Hawks did everything they could to get the ball to Buddy, the spearhead was in a wayward mood and slotted 3.6 for the afternoon.

He will now look to snare his 100th goal in front of his native West Australian crowd next weekend when the Hawks face West Coast on Sunday.

Still, Franklin was among the Hawks' best as their target man, while Brad Sewell and Sam Mitchell did plenty of grunt work at the clearances and Campbell Brown was strong in defence before creating some havoc in the forward line in the last term.

For the Tigers, Matthew Richardson and Joel Bowden each took a staggering 21 marks, while Shane Tuck was good and Trent Cotchin put in another impressive performance.

Richmond smashed Hawthorn in the clearances in the first term, and blitzed out to a 21-point lead as the clock dipped into red time when Mitch Morton slotted a six-pointer.

The Hawks got one back before the siren through Franklin, but their lethargy at the stoppages cost them dearly.

Goals were traded in the opening stages of the second term with Michael Osborne putting through an impressive snap from hard up against the boundary.

However, the Hawks were their own worst enemy when it came to accuracy and shanked four shots while the Tigers managed four goals.

Richmond youngsters Daniel Connors and Matt White combined to kick the final two goals of the term, which left the half time deficit at 31 points.

Hawthorn snared a team major in the opening minute with Jarryd Roughead shepherding for Franklin as he galloped into goal, but celebrations were short-lived with Morton responding up the other end.

The Hawks won the term 3.5 to 3.1, with good service from Sewell at the stoppages after Mitchell had been largely left to carry the load in the first half.

A goal to Chance Bateman got the Hawks within 25 points at the 15-minute mark, and Buddy missed a chance to narrow the gap further a minute later.

After a solid effort through the quarter, Hawthorn was delivered a blow when Morton goaled on the siren, leaving the difference at 27 points with a term to go.

The Hawks got the first two of the last through Brown, who was putting in a cameo as a forward, but one other goal to Mark Williams was all the brown and gold got to cheer in a Richmond-dominated final term.

Richmond will now host Fremantle at the MCG next Saturday afternoon, while Hawthorn will travel to Perth to meet West Coast at Subiaco on Sunday.

Richmond 5.2 10.5, 13.6, 16.9 (105)
Hawthorn 2.5 4.10, 7.15, 10.16 (76)

GOALS
Richmond: Connors 3, Morton 3, Cotchin, Tuck, Bowden, Tambling, Edwards, White, Cartledge, Deledio, McMahon, Richardson
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Brown 2, Lewis, Osborne, Rioli, Bateman, Williams

BEST
Richmond: Richardson, Bowden, Deledio, Newman, Tuck, McMahon, Cotchin
Hawthorn: Sewell, Franklin, Lewis, Hodge, Bateman, Mitchell, Ladson

INJURIES
Richmond: Foley out, replaced in selected side by Polo
Hawthorn: Nil

Reports: Simmonds (Richmond) reported for front on bump on Murphy (Hawthorn) in the first quarter by umpire Nicholls

Umpires: James, Nicholls, Mollison

Official crowd: 44,523 at the MCG