North Melbourne travelled to the MCG to play Richmond in what was billed as a battle of the caretaker coaches.

With Dean Laidley and Terry Wallace resigning weeks earlier, Darren Crocker had been in charge of North for three matches while Jade Rawlings had coached the last four games for Richmond.

More than 30,000 fans were treated to a see-sawing match at the MCG. At half-time it appeared the Tigers had the match well in hand, leading by 42-points thanks mainly to a 6 goal second quarter. However, the momentum shifted significantly in the second half.

An early goal to Leigh Harding raised hopes of a comeback, but Channel 7 commentator Bruce McAvaney was quick to point out North was still a 'long, long way back'. When Richmond answered with a goal through Robin Nahas to stretch the margin back to 43-points, Dennis Cometti said, 'Richmond have answered the challenge'.

A desperate effort from Daniel Pratt turned the tide again. When Nahas collected the ball on Richmond's forward 50, he was set for another shot on goal and one which would have surely put the game out of reach for the Roos. But Pratt was able to lunge at Nahas and force a turnover allowing North to take the ball straight down the other end.

Despite missed shots on goal by Lindsay Thomas and Michael Firrito, the tables had turned. Harding's second goal for the quarter started a run of three goals in less than two minutes and all of the sudden, the margin was just 22-points.

For the first time in the afternoon, North had run and carry through the midfield. David Hale and Adam Simpson had chances for shots on goal, but were adjudged to have infringed in the marking contests. It allowed Richmond off the hook slightly as it headed into the final break leading by 16-points.

'The stage is set for a big finish', Cometti exclaimed after five goals to one in the third quarter. While he was right, the final term started slowly. There was no score until Levi Greenwood caught Shane Edwards holding the ball and earned a shot on goal. While he missed, in many ways it was similar to Pratt's tackle in the third quarter, giving North a boost.

Brent Harvey then popped up with two quick goals in the space of 75 seconds and suddenly North trailed by just 3-points. At this stage it appeared the Roos would run over the top of Richmond, but the Tigers had other ideas.

Richmond had the next three scoring shots and although they were all behinds, it still led by 5-points with five minutes to go. It was then where the first of two big plays occurred.

Streaming down a wing, Jordan McMahon spotted up Jack Riewoldt for an uncontested chest mark. Riewoldt spilled it and from the ensuing rebound, David Hale marked 50 metres out. He made no mistake and North hit the lead for the first time since the early stages of the game.

Making what appeared to be their last roll of the dice, the Tigers found Tambling for a set shot. Off the boot it looked like a certain goal, yet it faded late and clipped the post.

The scores were level with 104 seconds left and the madness began.

In just 26 seconds, the ball travelled from Pratt in the defensive goalsquare to Harding at the opposite end. Harding's third goal was capped with an emphatic double fist pump and much like various other points in the game, the outcome looked decided.

Yet somehow, just 20 more seconds ticked off the clock and scores were level once again. From the centre, Richmond drove the ball forward and Mitch Morton was front and centre of the pack at the top of the goal square. He gathered and dribbled the ball through.

There was one final twist left.

With just 20 seconds remaining, North went forward and found Hale in a one-on-one contest. As he marked, the Kangaroos fans in the stands erupted; but Hale was deemed to have infringed on his opponent and the Tigers were handed possession.

The siren would sound with the ball in dispute on the wing, dealing North its second draw in as many years.

Richmond 4.5, 10.6, 11.9, 12.13 (85)
North Melbourne 1.3, 3.6, 8.11, 12.13 (85)

Goals
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Morton 2, Nahas 2, Coughlan 1, Edwards 1, Hislop 1, Polo 1, White 1
North Melbourne: Harding 3, Hale 2, Harvey 2, Greenwood 1, Hansen 1, Jones 1, McIntosh 1, Swallow 1

Crowd: 30,604