Naughton dominates the skies as Dogs topple TigersPeter Ryan
The Age
5 May 2019A commanding display of marking from teenage sensation Aaron Naughton has seen the Western Bulldogs dismantle Richmond by 47 points to mark the 100-game milestone of premiership-winning coach Luke Beveridge and break a four-game losing streak.
Marcus Bontempelli led the way with a masterful display in the centre square, giving the Dogs the territory advantage (and kicking three goals), but it was Naughton that stole the show, kicking five goals and recording 14 marks, falling just one contested grab short of equalling champion forward Wayne Carey's record of 10 in a match.
Playing just his 25th game, Naughton showed he is on the way to becoming a star – he might have even caught a star if the roof hadn't been closed – as he put in one of the best aerial displays seen at the stadium, marking both close to goal and when roaming up high towards the wing.
No one at Richmond could match aviator Aaron as he dominated the skies. Premiership defender Dylan Grimes became increasingly frustrated as the Tigers were inable to contain Naughton or the annoyingly effective Billy Gowers.
Richmond, already without David Astbury, Jack Riewoldt, Alex Rance and Trent Cotchin, were further hampered when Nick Vlastuin and Daniel Rioli each copped a knock to their legs that restricted them beyond quarter-time.
However even at full strength Richmond would have struggled against the ferocious Bulldogs, which came out keen to get some reward for their efforts in the past month when they have been competitive in all but one quarter against the Suns and in round five against Carlton.
Dogs ruckman Tim English withstood a physical onslaught from Toby Nankervis to win that battle and his talented midfield took advantage. The quality of the Bulldogs' centre clearances was much better than Richmond's.
Although the Tigers drew within seven points soon after half-time when Noah Balta took two bounces to outsprint Zaine Cordy and finish, the Bulldogs were good enough to respond with the next five goals to tilt the match their way.
With the game won the crowd's attention focused on Naughton's showing.
AERIAL AARON CONTROLS SKYWith Tiger stars Alex Rance and David Astbury in the stands and Nick Vlastuin receiving treatment in the rooms during the second term, the Bulldogs high-flyer Naughton took to the skies and pulled down five marks including a certain nomination for mark of the round. He converted as well, kicking three goals in the quarter as the Bulldogs opened up a handy lead. When he took a mark on the goal line in the third, his performance was suddenly comparable in impact if not style to former St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt.
LYNCH GOES MISSINGThe Tigers spearhead could not get a kick in the first half, literally entering the long break with just one handball to his name. Jackson Trengove, who is just two centimetres smaller than Lynch, had the big Tiger thinking small as he became more concerned about pushing back into space behind the defensive lines rather than leading up the ground and contemplating fighting with Hayden Crozier for the ball. He took his first mark at the six-minute mark of the third term but missed the set shot and had no influence on the match.
LOOSE LOCKETT ENDThe football gods conspired in the first half to make kicking set shot goals at the Lockett end of Marvel Stadium virtually impossible, unless your name was Bontempelli. Not long after Bulldogs supporters were bemoaning the four missed set shots for goal in the first quarter – Naughton, Sam Lloyd, Gowers and Jason Johannisen all in the proverbial doghouse – it was the Tigers' turn to show the affliction was infectious. In the second quarter they missed three set shots at that end while the Bulldogs couldn't miss at the Coventry, following the Richmond's impressive accuracy in the first term. It took a defender in Bachar Houli to finally break the Tigers' duck and keep them within striking distance.
RICHMOND REELINGThe Tigers have been good but the absence of star players showed and their game had all the rhythm of a garden hose with a kink in it. The Tigers had few winners on the night and they will need to get back to the drawing board to cover their deficiencies.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.5 6.7 12.8 15.9 (99)
RICHMOND 3.2 4.6 7.7 7.10 (52)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 5, Bontempelli 3, Gowers 2, Smith, Richards, Johannissen, Lloyd, McLean.
Richmond: Houli, Caddy, Ross, McIntosh, Baker, Balta, Stack.
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Naughton, Dunkley, Daniel, English, Crozier, Trengove.
Richmond: Prestia, Stack, Lambert, Ross
CROWD 36,151 at Marvel Stadium.
VOTES9: Aaron Naughton (Western Bulldogs)
9: Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
7: Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs)
7: Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs)
7: Hayden Crozier (Western Bulldogs)
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/naughton-dominates-the-skies-as-dogs-topple-richmond-20190504-p51k52.html