The Western Bulldogs’ greatest opening quarter in 12 years has set-up a commanding 55-point victory over Richmond to all however crush the Tigers’ finals aspirations.
After shedding an necessary thriller to GWS final week, the Bulldogs hit again to win 19.12 (126) to 10.11 (71) at Marvel Stadium on Friday evening to solidify their place within the prime eight.
Luke Beveridge’s workforce ran riot with 9.3 – their greatest first time period since spherical 22, 2011 – to stun the Tigers, spearheaded by 4 targets from Jamarra Ugle-Hagan earlier than quarter time.
The Bulldogs’ midfield got here out firing, as captain Marcus Bontempelli, Adam Treloar and Tom Liberatore obliterated their opposing midfield brigade.
Bontempelli (three targets, 32 disposals and 10 clearances) was at his scintillating greatest in a efficiency that can certainly earn him three votes on Brownlow Medal evening, when he shall be one of many favourites together with Collingwood younger gun Nick Daicos.
The Bulldogs’ eleventh win of the season places them into fifth on the ladder and they’re assured of ending the spherical inside the highest eight regardless of the ends in different video games.
Beveridge believed it was, or near, the Bulldogs’ most full efficiency of the season.
“We liked our game at Optus against Fremantle earlier in the year, that was a pretty solid game for us, but in comparison, this was pretty close,” Beveridge mentioned.
“It was an important night, especially when you consider what Richmond did at the end of the Hawthorn game (in round 19) was pretty impressive.
“We knew what we will be in for therefore tonight’s a very good return.”
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 right here”.
In seven matches since Hardwick’s statement, Richmond have lost six games and drawn one at the Docklands venue.
Interim Richmond coach Andrew McQualter was left puzzled by the Tigers’ performance but heaped praise on Bontempelli.
“I feel we he had about three folks attempt to go to him (Bontempelli) all through the evening – we actually had a crack at it,” he mentioned.
“But he (Bontempelli) could be the very best participant within the comp in the intervening time.
“Just a special player and the way he’s able to hurt you in different ways.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
