The pressure ramps up on St Kilda coach Alan Richardson, after Richmond broke clear in the last term for a 33-point AFL win.

Tigers ruck-forward Mabior Chol starred in his third senior game as Richmond broke their three-game losing streak and returned to the top eight with the 16.7 (103) to 10.10 (70) win on Sunday at Marvel Stadium.

The Saints have made it clear the team needs to claim a big scalp or two for Richardson to retain his job beyond this season.

They lacked nothing for effort – and it was a significant improvement on last week’s shocker against Brisbane – but they could not maintain a promising first half.

After starting the game with 7.0, St Kilda butchered their chances in the last term and sprayed a wasteful 2.7 as the Tigers piled on seven goals.

Chol sealed the win in the last quarter when he capitalised on St Kilda’s mix-up at a boundary throw in, grabbing the ball and kicking an easy goal.

The Sudanese-born big man took nine marks and kicked three goals.

Sydney Stack also kicked four goals and Dustin Martin racked up 36 disposals.

Richmond, who came out of the mid-season bye with seven changes, looked scratchy early.

Josh Bruce kicked the first goal of the game after a minute as the Saints made a bright start.

They kicked the opening three goals of the match – the first time St Kilda have managed that this season – and Richmond were on the back foot.

Stack and Chol made early statements, kicking the Tigers’ first two goals to keep it tight at quarter-time.

After Stack also kicked the opening goal of the second term, St Kilda went on a four-goal run and they broke out to a 23-point lead.

But again Chol and Stack kicked goals and the Tigers were only four points down at the main break as the 2017 premiers started finding their groove.

Richmond kicked another four goals in the third term and the dam wall was creaking.

Cult figure Matt Parker’s goal late in the third term stalled the Richmond surge, but the seven-point Tigers lead at three-quarter time felt like a lot more.