Himmelberg kicked two first half-goals at Robertson Oval in the Giants' 17.7 (109) to 14.11 (95) victory - a see-sawing and free-wheeling affair showcasing some of the game's biggest names from the two best teams of last year.

GWS' Toby Greene shone with five goals, and Richmond forward Tom Lynch kicked four, all in the second half but Himmelberg was already done by then.

Giants coach Leon Cameron said the Wagga junior is "extremely important" to their side and his early exit in his home town was a precaution.

"He played big game-time last week. We sort of ummed and aahhed (because) he wanted to stay out there but we took him off and said, 'No, you're not going to play the second half,' Cameron said.

"He got a corkie. But he's in no doubt for the Geelong game."

Round one is the focus for both teams and it was evident from the outset that this was a genuine hit-out.

The Giants brought high intensity and pressure early to get out to a 13-point lead, with Culcairn's Jeremy Finlayson first to hit the scoreboard, before Richmond seized momentum for the rest of the quarter.

The Tigers opened up, with seven straight scoring shots (kicking 3.4) to go nine points in front and the momentum swings would continue.

A 10-goal second term was started and finished by Tigers gun Dustin Martin who found two goals to go with two near misses and 16 touches before half-time. But even he was almost overshadowed by a Sydney Stack screamer in defence.

Still, the Giants had the better of the quarter to again look in control and lead at the long break. Richmond snatched it back early in the third term before Greene decided to stand up and join the shoot-out.

When he kicked his second, the Giants led by four points. His fourth ensured a 21-point margin at three-quarter-time and he closed out the game by making it five for the game and keeping the Tigers at bay.

"Really happy to have a really tough and hard performance against clearly the best side in the comp," Cameron said.

"It was a pretty high-scoring game. Both coaches would probably always say we'd like to defend better. We need to defend better, (but) I thought the spectacle was pretty good.

"The game itself, you turn the ball over against Richmond and they can punish you straight away. They can slice you. And at times they were doing that to us.

"But equally, I thought we found the right mix of going fast, and also a bit measured with the footy.

"But it's a good hit-out. We respect Richmond enormously, (they're) the benchmark, and to play them in the final hit out in Marsh Series is good prep for us coming into the season proper."

Josh Kelly had a mountain of ball (34 touches) as did classy captain Stephen Coniglio (32 touches, and two goals), Greene (21 touches) was clever and composed on his way to five goals, and youngster Jackson Hately caught the eye.

Heath Shaw was solid and also in the thick of things with a wrestle with Nick Vlastuin in the third while Richmond lost Kane Lambert to a concussion after he copped a stray knee from Jeremy Cameron.

Martin, through the middle and up forward, and Daniel Rioli, with some classy marking and two goals, led Richmond.

The Tigers play Carlton on Thursday week in the AFL season opener.

Full-time:

GWS GIANTS: 4.1, 10.3, 15.5, 17.7 (109)

RICHMOND: 4.4, 8.6, 11.8, 14.11 (95)

Goals: (GWS) T Greene 5, H Himmelberg 2, S Coniglio 2, J Finlayson, B Daniels, Z Langdon, T Green, J Hately, N Haynes, J Hopper, D Lloyd; (Richmond) T Lynch 4, D Martin 2, J Castagna 2, D Rioli 2, I Soldo, C Coleman-Jones, K Lambert, J Caddy.

Best: (GWS) T Greene, S Coniglio, J Kelly, J Hately, J Cameron, H Perryman; (Richmond) D Martin, D Rioli, T Lynch, D Prestia, S Edwards, M Pickett.

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