Richmond has shocked the AFL world and left the Blues stunned after they rallied from a 41-point deficit to record a remarkable 82-69 victory in front of a packed MCG tonight. Few pundits or fans had given the Tiger cubs much chance of winning a game this season, let alone their annual season opener against the highly favoured Blues, after losing several veteran stars in the off-season. A game-high 32 touches from Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps was not enough to reverse the yellow and black tide as it swept over the hapless Blues in the second half. The win for Richmond was their first win in 10 months with Seth Campbell soccering in the final goal and performing a backward flip to celebrate in the final minute. The Tigers looked like they were going to be on the wrong end of a cricket score early in the game, trialling 34-7 at quarter time. The Blues lead by as many as 41 points in the second quarter on the back of a Sam Walsh goal before taking a 50-25 lead into the main break. Richmond then kicked five straight goals and kept the Blues to just one major in the third quarter to draw level 57-57 at the three-quarter time. The Blues managed only one more goal during the last quarter to cap a paltry second half as the Tigers booted four more to win comfortably. The Blues had their chances late, spraying 1.6 in the last quarter, and the huge upset adds to question marks about their 2025 bona fides. No. 1 draft pick Sam Lalor, Toby Nankervis, Jack Ross and Campbell all kicked two goals each, while Tim Taranto (30) and Jack Ross (28) were the Tigers’ best ball-getters. Lalor’s fellow debutants Harry Armstrong and Luke Trainor also had a night they will not forget. Lalor, despite his tender years, was composed after the game but was unable to hide his excitement. “A really special night .. I am so proud of the group,” he said. “I am so happy we got the win. He credited the Tigers “pressure in our forward half” for helping deliver the win. Blues key defender Jacob Weitering was his own wall in defence, and Cripps was dealing with Kamdyn McIntosh, who stood out with his bald head and headband. Adding to their problems, key forward Tom Lynch caught Tom De Koning high with a bump early in the second term. The Blues ruckman briefly left the field and the incident is sure to attract match-review attention. But immediately after Walsh’s six-pointer in the second quarter, Lynch marked and goaled. It was a big moment for the Tigers, given the man coach Adem Yze calls their forward-line “godfather” has only managed eight games in the past two seasons because of injury. Another two goals brought Richmond within 25 points at the main break. Still, there was a sense that the Blues would kick clear. That was until Richmond quickly kicked the first two goals of the third term and piled the pressure on Carlton, who wilted. The Tigers kicked five goals to one in the third term, with the fightback capped by Tom Brown marking a woeful clearing kick on the three-quarter-time siren. His goal levelled the scores and had the Tiger army in full roar. Richmond went 17 points clear in the final term before Carlton fought back, with Jack Silvagni going forward and kicking a goal in his first game for 600 days, since recovering from an ACL injury. Young Richmond key defender Jacob Blight limped off in the third term with a quad cramp after his excellent game on Harry McKay. He was subbed out of the game, but it was as much tactical as it was because of injury.