Australian Football

Match Report

Coming from behind to snatch a thrilling win is getting to be a habit for the Western Bulldogs and they did it again at Docklands on Saturday night, conceding a 32-point deficit to Richmond before clawing their way back into the match, grabbing the lead midway through the final quarter and then holding on to record a thrilling five-point win over the unlucky Tigers. Not for the first time this season the Dogs were hampered by poor kicking for goal, and one wonders just how long they can continue to 'pull games out of the fire'. Despite the loss, Richmond's effort to bounce back from a thrashing against Adelaide was impressive, as was its ability to push the reigning premiers to the brink.

It took only a minute for the Tigers to bring up their first goal, with Riewoldt combining with Dustin Martin to give them an early lead but the Dogs levelled the scores soon after when Jake Stringer soccered through a loose ball after a long shot from Matt Suckling. Thereafter Richmond took control of the match and, after misses from Riewoldt and Todd Elton, hit the scoreboard with majors to Kane Lambert and Jack Riewoldt. The Dogs stemmed the tide briefly but the Tigers closed the quarter strongly with late goals to Riewoldt and Dan Butler and they were 26 points to the good at the first change of ends.

The Tigers started the second term as they had the first, with an early goal, this time to Riewoldt after a mark. That put Richmond 32 points clear and set the alarm bells ringing in the Bulldogs' coaches box. From there the Dogs faced the now familiar task of having to claw their way back into the match, and they began with a snapped goal from Liam Picken at the seven-minute mark. Marcus Adams followed up with his first from an acute angle, and when Clay Smith kicked a classic rover's goal on the cusp of time on, the Bulldogs were back within 13 points. The Tigers concerns were then further compounded by Nick Vlaustin coming of with a shoulder injury at the 22-minute mark. A late goal to Martin extended the margin back out to an even three goals at the long break, but there was a sense that the Dogs were back in the match as both teams headed for the change rooms.

Shaun Grigg gave Richmond some breathing space when he marked and kicked truly at the five-minute mark of the third term, but the Bulldogs responded almost immediately via Clay Smith and when Marcus Bontempelli kicked his first from the goal square five minutes later the Dogs were back within 11 points and looking threatening. Josh Caddy goaled at the 11-minute mark to take the Tigers' lead back out to 17 and things were beginning to look bad for the Bulldogs when Stringer fell awkwardly and had to be helped from the field with an injured knee. But they kept coming, and dominated the last half of the term, kicking 2.3 to nil to be within just two points of Richmond at 'orange time'.

Richmond began the final quarter as it had the other three, kicking the opening goal, this time through Anthony Miles after he was taken high. That gave the Tigers a seven-point buffer but the Bulldogs reduced that to just one point midway through the term when Clay Smith gathered a loose ball to kick his third. Three minutes later he marked and slotted his fourth goal and the Dogs were in front for the first time in the match. Smith was involved again at the 19-minute mark when he squared a beautiful pass to Lachie Hunter, whose straight kick gave the Bulldogs an 11-point lead.

A great handball intercept from Martin finished with a goal to Riewoldt at the 23-minute mark and the Tigers were back in the match. Richmond attacked again and had the ball very close to goal when a controversial free kick was paid against Jayden Short for deliberately putting the ball out of bounds. Marcus Adams then marked the clearing kick and the siren sounded soon after, the Bulldogs victorious by five points in a thriller.

Lachie Hunter (28 possessions, eight tackles) and Luke Dahlhaus (31 disposals, five tackles) were instrumental in the Bulldogs' win, while Shaun Grigg (29 touches and five marks) and Dustin Martin (28 disposals, two goals) played great games for the Tigers.

Both sides now have 5-2 records, with the Bulldogs in fifth place on the ladder, just ahead of Richmond on percentage. The Bulldogs will return to the scene of their epic elimination final win next Friday night when they take on West Coast at Subiaco, while Richmond will look to return to the winners list against Fremantle at the MCG on Sunday. 

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Smith 4; Adams 2; Stringer, Picken, McLean, Bontempelli, Hunter
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Martin 2, Butler, Miles, Lambert, Caddy, Grigg

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Bontempelli, Hunter, Smith, Macrae, T.Boyd
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Rance, Grigg, Caddy, Houli

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (knee), Dunkley (shoulder)
Richmond: Vlastuin (shoulder)

UMPIRES: Deboy, Meredith, Ryan

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Seven Network

COMMENTATORS: Luke Darcy, Basil Zempilas, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling