Tom Brown's last-minute tackle has saved Richmond, who beat West Coast by two points in an entertaining battle of the AFL cellar dwellers.
Tom Gross was streaming forward in the last minute and Brown mowed him down from behind, allowing the Tigers to come away with victory by 11.15 (81) to 11.13 (79) on Sunday at the MCG.
Richmond hit the front with the last three behinds of the game and their experienced players, especially Toby Nankervis, Nathan Broad and Nick Vlastuin, were mighty in the final quarter as they held on for their third win of the season.
The last-placed Eagles are yet to win a second half this season.
Midfielders Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper and forward Rhyan Mansell impressed for the Tigers, while young gun Harley Reid was prominent for West Coast and teammate Jamie Cripps kicked a game-high three goals.
Both sides were hit with late withdrawals.
First, Eagles co-captain Oscar Allen pulled out with a knee injury.
Then only minutes before the opening bounce, Jayden Short also came out of Richmond's line-up with the same problem.
The Tigers were on top initially, kicking the first three goals. But the Eagles bagged the last two of the term and another two to start the second quarter.
There were eight lead changes in the second term alone as the Eagles took control of the centre bounces and the Tigers counter-punched.
With five goals in the second quarter and Reid prominent, West Coast closed to within one point at the main break.
They edged ahead midway through the third quarter and looked ready to take control, but could only manage three straight behinds.
After the third Eagles miss, the Tigers quickly moved the ball down the other end and Mansell kicked his second goal late in the quarter.
Captain Nankervis, who looked groggy after being caught in a gang tackle earlier in the term, then marked and goaled and the Tigers took a four-point lead into the last quarter.