The Western Bulldogs’ best opening quarter in 12 years has set-up a commanding 55-point victory over Richmond that has all but crushed the Tigers’ finals aspirations.
After losing an important thriller to GWS last week, the Bulldogs hit back to win 19.12 (126) to 10.11 (71) at Docklands Stadium on Friday night to solidify their position in the top eight.
Luke Beveridge’s team ran riot with 9.3 – their best first term since round 22, 2011 – to stun the Tigers, spearheaded by four goals from Jamarra Ugle-Hagan before quarter time.
The Bulldogs’ midfield came out firing, as captain Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar and Tom Liberatore obliterated their opposing midfield brigade.
Bontempelli (three goals, 32 disposals and 10 clearances) was at his scintillating best in a performance that will surely earn him three votes on Brownlow Medal night, when he will be one of the favourites along with Collingwood young gun Nick Daicos.
The Bulldogs’ 11th win of the season puts them into fifth on the ladder and they are assured of finishing the round inside the top eight no matter the results in other games.
Richmond were forced to sub Jacob Hopper out in the second quarter after the former Giants midfielder collided with Treloar.
Hopper stayed on the field for a number of minutes until a goal was kicked, but was brought to the bench by a trainer and subsequently failed a concussion test.
It comes after an explosive week when Port Adelaide were slapped with a $100,000 fine for their botched handling of defender Aliir Aliir’s concussion during the Power’s Showdown defeat to Adelaide.
The Bulldogs also pulled Anthony Scott out of the game after he was concussed during a friendly-fire collision with Bontempelli in the third quarter.
Richmond entered the match without superstar Dustin Martin and former skipper Trent Cotchin, with interim coach Andrew McQualter clarifying pre-game the pair had struggled with soreness coming off a five-day break.
Veteran defender Dylan Grimes was a late withdrawal after waking up on Friday with nerve pain in his neck.
To be any chance of playing finals, Richmond will need to win their remaining three matches against St Kilda, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide (away).
The result continues the Tigers’ winless record at Marvel Stadium since former coach Damien Hardwick infamously slammed the ground after a win against GWS in 2021, saying he “hated coming here”.
In seven matches since Hardwick’s statement, Richmond have lost six games and drawn one at the Docklands venue.
Ladder
AAP
