Prestia breathes life into Tigers' AFL season

A brilliant burst from Dion Prestia has helped Richmond snap a five-match losing streak with a 46-point win over injury-ravaged West Coast.

Prestia got hot in bitterly cold conditions on Saturday, kicking three goals in five minutes late in the third quarter to break open a dour contest at the MCG.

Midfield recruits Tim Taranto (30 disposals, 10 clearances) and Jacob Hopper (32, 10) were also influential as the Tigers triumphed 15.14 (104) to 8.10 (58).

Prestia's three majors equalled a career-high tally for the 199-game midfielder.

Fellow star Shai Bolton (31 disposals, seven clearances) also finished with three goals and Taranto added two.

It was Richmond's (2-1-5) first win since round two, breathing some much-needed life back into their season.

West Coast forward Oscar Allen kicked a game-high four goals but couldn't drag his side over the line as they suffered a sixth-straight defeat.

Already ravaged by injuries this season, the Eagles' woes continued when young midfielder Jai Culley went down clutching his right knee 12 minutes into the match.

The 20-year-old, a Rising Star nominee playing his ninth senior game, hobbled off with help from trainers and was substituted out minutes later.

Culley and coach Adam Simpson were both emotional at the quarter-time huddle.

Tim Kelly (29 disposals, nine clearances) and Dom Sheed (29, nine) worked tirelessly in a losing cause for the Eagles, while Jamaine Jones won a career-high 30 disposals.

The visitors won clearances (45-37) but were beaten in contested possession (151-130) and smashed in inside-50s (65-42).

West Coast kicked the first two goals of a scrappy opening term - which featured just one mark inside 50m for each side - before Culley was injured.

They kept their noses in front until midway through the second quarter when a Bolton mark and goal gave Richmond the lead for the first time.

Inaccuracy prevented a bigger margin than the Tigers' nine-point buffer at the main break after they dominated inside-50s (20-8) and kicked 4.6 to 2.2 in the second term.

Two goals from Allen to start the second half and another from the rarely-sighted Jack Darling, who was limited to just four disposals by Nathan Broad, briefly put the Eagles back in front.

But a quick reply from Bolton and Prestia's scintillating burst wrested momentum before the final change and the Tigers coasted home.

Richmond forward Noah Cumberland was substituted out of the match during the third quarter with just two disposals to his name.

Cumberland gave away two free kicks and was harshly penalised 50 metres when he kicked a ball that had already drifted over the boundary line.