The Sydney Swans have fallen short against a rampaging Richmond by 18 points on Friday night at the SCG.
In a physical, often niggly affair that featured plenty of pushing and shoving along with two reports, the Tigers stormed back from a lacklustre first half to take the match 14.11 (95) to 11.11 (77), having trailed by 32 points at half time, and consolidate their position inside the top eight.
Riewoldt lit up the SCG on a chilly Friday night, kicking his sixth goal at the 22-minute mark of the final term to put his team in front for good in an enthralling encounter witnessed by 37,579 fans.
And Tigers skipper Cotchin also had a big impact on the contest, providing most of the visitors' drive forward on his way to 27 possessions.
It was a doubly disappointing night for the Swans. Not only has their six-game unbeaten run come to the end as they drop to 9-3, the club also faces the prospect of being without Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett after the pair were reported in two separate incidents.
In the second term, Franlkin ran past the footy just outside the Swans' attacking 50m arc and, with his left arm tucked to the side of his body, collected Shane Edwards in the head. Field umpire Justin Schmitt reported the star forward.
Although Edwards got to his feet immediately and managed to take his free kick, he looked dazed and came off the ground shortly afterwards.
Edwards was late to return from the rooms after half-time as he underwent a concussion test. And in further drama, the Tigers were penalised for an interchange infringement in the third term when they tried to get Edwards back on the ground before the player had served the mandatory 20-minute concussion period.
Tippett was the second player to go into the umpire Schmitt's book early in the third term, when the 28-year-old raised his right elbow in a marking contest and struck Dylan Grimes in the head.
Grimes looked shaken after the clash, staying on the ground for a few moments before regaining his feet.
The Swans, who had looked in control for most of the first half when they extended a one-goal quarter-time advantage to a 32-point lead at the main break, found themselves under pressure after the Tippett clash as the Tigers worked their way bravely back into the contest.
Cotchin, who had good support from the likes of Anthony Miles (28 touches), Dustin Martin (24) and Shaun Grigg (24) got things started for the visitors with the first of four unanswered Richmond goals in a 12-minute burst that reduced the margin to single digits.
And although the Swans responded with goals from Tom Mitchell and Luke Parker, it was Richmond that took a deserved two-point lead into the final term thanks to a pair of goals from the mercurial Riewoldt.
All up, the Tigers booted 11 goals to three after the main interval to post another significant road win, having overcome Fremantle two weeks ago in Perth, and establish their credentials as a genuine finals contender. The men from Punt Road face GWS at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Swans will be anxiously awaiting the findings of the Match Review Panel, and spend the next six days ahead of their round 14 meeting with Port Adelaide on Thursday night wondering how they let slip a more than five-goal advantage.
SYDNEY SWANS 3.4 8.7 10.8 11.11 (77)
RICHMOND 2.4 3.5 10.10 14.11 (95)
GOALS
Sydney Swans: Franklin 2, Parker 2, Rohan 2, Derickx, Hannebery, Kennedy, Mitchell, Tippett
Richmond: Riewoldt 6, Newman, Cotchin, Deledio, Vickery, Ellis, Gordon, Maric, Miles
BEST
Sydney Swans: Kennedy, Parker, McVeigh, Hannebery, Rohan, Grundy
Richmond: Riewoldt, Cotchin, Miles, Rance, Ellis, Maric
INJURIES
Sydney Swans: Nil
Richmond: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Sydney Swans: Tom Mitchell replaced by Zak Jones at three quarter-time
Adelaide: Kane Lambert replaced by Kamdyn McIntosh in the last quarter
Reports: Lance Franklin reported for engaging in rough conduct on Shane Edwards in the second quarter.
Kurt Tippett reported for striking Dylan Grimes in the third quarter
Umpires: Schmitt, Chamberlain, Meredith
Official crowd: 37,579 at the SCG
