Australian Football

Match Report

At City Mazda Stadium in Richmond, the Bloods prepared for what probably should have been a big test against the Bulldogs. The Dogs hammered the Bloods in Round 18 last season, a 64-point demolition at Richmond. But this time things were about to change.

Despite things starting relatively even to start off, with the Bloods holding a one-point lead at quarter-time, the home side would then rip the Dogs apart. It would begin with the Bloods bagging 4.4 to a single Centrals goal in the second term to see Westies up by 23 points at the half-time break. The commitment the Bloods showed with putting body to ball and then quickly converting to attack has been a hallmark of the Dogs for the last decade... which here they were being schooled instead. The Bloods continued the run in the third quarter, kicking 4.2 to the Dogs's paltry 1.3 to take a 34-point lead going into the last change. The Dogs had one goal left in them, the Bloods had another 5.2 to finish off the reigning premiers, an 11-goal smashing the final result.

The Bloods named Chris Schmidt as their best on ground, while the Dogs named captain Paul Thomas as their one true standout.