A GOAL to Matthew White with less than two minutes remaining has given Richmond an upset three-point win over Hawthorn in the final game of the season-opening NAB Cup triple-header at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Damien Hardwick's men looked gone when Shane Savage kicked a goal to give the Hawks a 10-point lead late in the second half, but Daniel Jackson and then White replied to steal the 6.4 (40) to 5.7 (37) victory.

Both teams took under-strength line-ups into their final hit-out of the night.

The Tigers' 'outs' from game one included Dustin Martin, Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin and skipper Chris Newman, with the Hawks leaving Luke Hodge, Shaun Burgoyne, Grant Birchall and Brent Guerra on the sidelines.

In those stars' absence, Richmond got great service from Jeromey Webberley and Nathan Foley, with Jake King and Jackson booting two goals apiece.

Lance Franklin was Hawthorn's best, his three second-half goals threatening to take the match away from the Tigers after they led by four points at half-time.

Sam Mitchell was busy through the midfield, and Matt Suckling and Ben Stratton both used the ball well from defence.

Rookie Addam Maric, who crossed to Punt Rd from Melbourne in the off-season, stood out among the Tigers' new faces in a busy display.

Draftee Brandon Ellis collected five disposals in a promising showing.

Hawthorn's only draftee in the match, Brad Hill, was the substitute until the dying stages of the game.

Recruit Jack Gunston showed a clean set of hands, taking five marks.

The result meant all three teams in the tri-series finished the night with one win and one loss, after the Tigers lost to North Melbourne in game one and Hawthorn beat the Kangaroos in game two.


HAWTHORN    0.1.5   0.5.7  (40)
RICHMOND     0.2.3   0.6.4   (37)

GOALS
Hawthorn: Franklin 3, Shiels, Savage
Richmond: King, Jackson 2, Miller, White

BEST
Hawthorn: Franklin, Mitchell, Suckling, Stratton, Young, Gunston
Richmond: King, Foley, Webberley, Jackson, Maric, Tuck
INJURIES
Hawthorn: Nil
Richmond: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Stevic, Ryan, Jeffery

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club