Western Bulldogs hang on in thrilling five-point win over Richmond
The Dogs have held off a surging Richmond side to end up on top in a thrilling contest at the MCG.
Western Bulldogs recovered from a Richmond blitzkrieg in the second term to record their second win of the season and their second big scalp in as many weeks on Saturday.
The Bulldogs started well in belting rain at the MCG before Richmond piled on seven consecutive goals to lead by 14 points at the main break.
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Luke Beveridge’s men steadied to outlast the Tigers in front of 56,449 at the MCG, with Richmond still to taste victory only once so far this season.
The Bulldogs looked home when they led by 11 points in the final minute in wet conditions, before Tiger Shai Bolton snapped a great goal to cut the margin to five points with 33 seconds remaining.
In a frantic final stanza, the Bulldogs held on to record a hard earned win by 12.17 (89) to 12.12 (84).
Ruckman Tim English starred with two goals and 20 disposals. Skipper Marcus Bontempelli was instrumental with 25 disposals and 12 clearances to will his side to victory in the same manner he did last week against Brisbane.
It came for the Bont after not a great start for the Bulldogs superstar.
In the opening minutes he was brought down by Tigers spearhead Tom Lynch, who booted the first goal.
From there the Bulldogs kicked four of the next five goals to open up a 23-point at the first change.
Then everything changed.
The Tigers swarmed in the second term to turn a 29-point deficit into a 14-point lead at the main break after kicking seven consecutive goals. It turned into a stalemate in the third term after rain bucketed down at the start of the quarter.
Naughton kicked the only goal of the third quarter, with the two sides then kicking 10 points between them.
Hannan missed one off the ground he should have kicked late in the term, but made amends with a great left foot snap goal to give the Dogs the lead seven minutes into the final term.
A free kick and Naughton’s third goal and then one to Robbie McComb made it a 13-point lead midway through the quarter.
Tiger Tim Taranto kicked Richmond’s first goal since late in the second term to make it a nine-point game.
From there the Bulldogs were able to steady and hold on in an absorbing contest.
Richmond forward Tom Lynch could be in some trouble with the MRO after defender Alex Keath was forced out of the game in the first quarter.
Lynch came together with Keath while contesting a market contest and appeared to collect Keath high with a bump, which led to a HIA and the Bulldog subbed out.
In his first game since round 2, Dustin Martin proved there are no lingering issues with his hamstring.
The triple Norm Smith Medallist had 15 touches and a crowd-pleasing snap goal to halftime and finished with 23 disposals and a goal.
Triple premiership captain Trent Cotchin was to be “rested” this week along with fellow veteran Jack Riewoldt, but Tigers coach Damien Hardwick pulled a surprise move by bringing in the former skipper as Richmond’s substitute.
He was subbed on to cheers from Richmond faithful late in the second term following a hamstring injury to Jack Graham and collected 11 touches.
- with NCA NewsWire
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