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Richmond's AFL premiership defence is quickly unravelling after giving up a 29-point lead to Collingwood at the MCG to lose their fourth straight game.

Richmond's season is officially in tatters after letting a 29-point lead to lowly Collingwood slip as the Magpies stormed home to secure an incredible 16-point AFL upset at the MCG.

The Tigers appeared to be cruising towards a comfortable victory in the third quarter, which would have ended a concerning three-game losing run.

But Collingwood had other ideas, slamming through seven-straight goals, and eight of the last nine, to overturn a 20-point deficit at three-quarter time and prevail 13.9 (87) to 11.5 (71).

It was just the Magpies' fifth win of a tumultuous season and their first under caretaker coach Robert Harvey, who took over from Nathan Buckley three games ago.

Richmond threatened, multiple times, to blow the game open during the first three quarters but Collingwood were able to keep the margin at a manageable level.

But just as they did in the final quarter against St Kilda last week, albeit without winning, the Magpies ran over the top of their opposition.

Tom Lynch's third goal gave Richmond a late sniff of reclaiming the lead, before maligned Magpies forward Josh Thomas' second major sealed the memorable boilover.

The result leaves Richmond in 12th at 7-9 and in serious danger of missing finals altogether after winning three of the last four premierships.

"We thought for three quarters we were pretty good and looked like a dominant side again," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.

"There's some things to take out of it, we're obviously really disappointed that we lost, but there were some growth opportunities."

Dynamic forward Jamie Elliott was electric for the Magpies with three vital goals, while Jordan De Goey produced a game-breaking final quarter.

Magpies midfielders Jack Crisp and Taylor Adams were both outstanding in turning the tide, while ruckman Brodie Grundy finished with 22 disposals, 40 hitouts and a goal.

"It's a good result, because the players work so hard, and to finish how they did was a good effort," Harvey said.

"I felt like the players had been so positive all day so the message at three-quarter-time was just more of the same but just a bit quicker."

For the Tigers, youngster Sydney Stack made a solid return in his first game since round 13 last year following a series of off-field indiscretions.

Veteran Jack Riewoldt became the 24th player in the VFL/AFL history to kick 700 goals when he bagged a major after the halftime siren, which saw him mobbed by Richmond teammates.

Young Magpies forward Will Kelly failed to see out the first half and was subbed out of the game with a calf injury for Trey Ruscoe.

Richmond have just five days to recover before hosting Brisbane at the MCG on Friday night, while the Magpies will clash with old rivals Carlton on Sunday.