Tigers fall to Bulldogs at Marvel Riley Beveridge
afl.com.au
22 June 2025WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 10.6 15.7 21.9 (135)
RICHMOND 1.3 1.4 3.8 8.8 (56)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Darcy 5, Bontempelli 3, McNeil 2, West 2, English 2, Hynes 2, Richards, Khamis, Bramble, Davidson, Naughton
Richmond: Lynch 3, McIntosh, Ross, Campbell, Green, Hopper
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Darcy, Liberatore, Richards, Kennedy, Williams, Lobb
Richmond: Vlastuin, Taranto, Lynch, Campbell, Hopper
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Treloar (calf)
Richmond: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Buku Khamis (replaced Treloar in the second quarter)
Richmond: Jasper Alger (replaced Sonsie in the third quarter)
LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Sanders (illness) replaced by Harmes
Richmond: Nil
Crowd: 38,280 at Marvel Stadium
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The Western Bulldogs controlled Sunday afternoon’s contest with Richmond from start to finish, running away with a 79-point victory, 21.9 (135) to 8.8 (56).
The bulk of their brunt work was completed in the second quarter, and was the catalyst behind an unanswered seven-goal run that helped blow the margin beyond Richmond's reach and lay the foundations for a comfortable second half.
Even by that stage, though, things had already started to look ominous for the Tigers. They conceded the first three goals of the match and, while they plugged some holes up until quarter-time, the dam wall was always threatening to burst. That eventuality happened in the second term, where the margin stretched to 56 points by the main break.
A young Richmond battled throughout a difficult second half. Veteran forward Tom Lynch added two goals in the third term, before Richmond chipped in with five more in a fighting final quarter performance that kept the end margin from exploding even further that it had once threatened to.
By that stage, though, the four points had long been heading back to the Whitten Oval. But you probably could have predicted that weeks ago.
The Dogs had 11 individual goalkickers, while Tom Lynch fired for the Tigers with three goals.
Nick Vlastuin was his usual reliable self for Richmond with 28 disposals and eight intercept possessions, while Tim Taranto (27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, six tackles, six clearances), Seth Campbell (15 disposals, seven inside 50s) and Jack Ross (19 disposals) battled hard in defeat.
For the Bulldogs, Marcus Bontempelli finished with 36 disposals and three goals to go with seven clearances, four goal assists, 11 inside-50s and 12 score involvements. Sam Darcy was just as good, kicking five goals from 19 disposals and eight marks.
A long day for young TigersEveryone knew there would be days like these for Richmond this season. It's to coach Adem Yze's credit that they perhaps haven't come around as often as many thought they would before a ball had been kicked this season. The side's 79-point defeat was its second worst of the season, with March's 82-point hammering by St Kilda still topping that list, but was the fifth of 10 goals or more through the season's first 15 weeks. The Tigers kicked just one goal to half-time and fought for nothing but pride throughout a long and difficult second half. The tough tests don't stop, though, with a high-scoring Adelaide the next opponent set to face Richmond next Sunday at the MCG.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1348794/injury-sours-big-western-bulldogs-win-over-richmond-tigers-cubs-as-big-guns-marcus-bontempelli-and-sam-darcy-fire
