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The Western Bulldogs’ finest opening quarter in 12 years has set-up a commanding 55-point victory over Richmond that has all however crushed 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 Docklands Stadium on Friday evening to solidify their place within the prime eight.
Luke Beveridge’s group ran riot with 9.3 – their finest 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 finest 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 leads to different video games.
Richmond had been pressured to sub Jacob Hopper out within the second quarter after the previous Giants midfielder collided with Treloar.
Hopper stayed on the sphere for numerous minutes till a aim was kicked, however was dropped at the bench by a coach and subsequently failed a concussion take a look at.
It comes after an explosive week when Port Adelaide had been slapped with a $100,000 superb for his or her botched dealing with of defender Aliir Aliir’s concussion in the course of the Energy’s Showdown defeat to Adelaide.
The Bulldogs additionally pulled Anthony Scott out of the sport after he was concussed throughout a friendly-fire collision with Bontempelli within the third quarter.
Richmond entered the match with out famous person 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 ache in his neck.
To be any likelihood of enjoying finals, Richmond might want to win their remaining three matches towards St Kilda, North Melbourne and Port Adelaide (away).
The consequence continues the Tigers’ winless file at Marvel Stadium since former coach Damien Hardwick infamously slammed the bottom after a win towards GWS in 2021, saying he “hated coming right here”.
In seven matches since Hardwick’s assertion, Richmond have misplaced six video games and drawn one on the Docklands venue.
Ladder
AAP
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