Coach Adem Yze is hailing Richmond's courage to defy a lengthy injury list and cause an eight-point boilover against Adelaide.
The Tigers snapped an eight-game losing streak with a stirring 12.7 (79) to 10.11 (71) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.
Without rested megastar Dustin Martin and with 14 players unavailable because of injury, Richmond produced a six-goal third-term blitz to heap more misery on the Crows.
Adelaide, touted as potential finalists pre-season, have just four wins - only two more than the Tigers.
"From a finals point of view, it's going to be very, very tough for us, mathematically, to get in there," Crows coach Matthew Nicks said.
Richmond's Yze, after his second win as senior coach, lauded the spirit of his charges.
"Just really proud of the players," he said.
"To see them get some reward for effort ... they really play with their heart on their sleeves."
Tiger Justin Koschitzke faces match review scrutiny for a behind-play elbow to the body of Mark Keane which felled the Irish-born defender.
The blow came as Richmond seized control with a third-term onslaught, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a 22-point three quarter-time lead by booting 6.1 to 2.2 for the quarter.
The advantage should have been greater: minutes after Koschitzke's contact on Keane, the recalled forward took a mark and lined up for a shot at goal.
But a fracas developed and the ball was given to Adelaide when Cumberland aggressively pushed Keane over.
Cumberland's act took some gloss of his polished three-goal display while teammates Kamdyn McIntosh, Seth Campbell and Rhyan Mansell booted two goals each.
Tiger stalwart Jayden Short (31 disposals), Tim Taranto (26) and Liam Baker (24, one goal) were standouts.
On a bleak night for the Crows, captain Jordan Dawson was superb with a match-high 32 disposals, Darcy Fogarty kicked three goals and Josh Rachele scored two.
Richmond started brightly, scoring the initial three goals but led by only six points at quarter-time, 3.4 to 2.2.
The Crows kicked three goals to two in the second period to pinch a 5.6 to 5.5 halftime advantage.
Adelaide went seven points clear when James Borlase - who like teammates Kieran Strachan earlier and debutant Billy Dowling later - kicked his first AFL goal.
But the Tigers spectacularly rallied: four goals in eight minutes, including two from Cumberland, created an 17-point break.
The visitors added two more majors to hold an 11.6 to 7.8 break at the last change.
Adelaide threatened with quick goals from Rachele and Fogarty reducing their deficit to 10 points just three minutes into the last quarter.
But a superb goal from Richmond's Campbell - on the run and near a boundary line - gifted the visitors breathing space.
Adelaide first-gamer Dowling then scored to shrink the margin to nine points with a tick over six minutes remaining.
Three minutes later, Dowling missed a set-shot - it was Adelaide's last clear goal-scoring chance of the game.
