A first-quarter blitz has guided the Western Bulldogs to a 55-point win over Richmond, enhancing their finals hopes and landing a potentially fatal blow to the Tigers' chances of featuring in September.

The Bulldogs slammed home nine goals to two in the opening term to grab a 44-point lead at the first change and never looked back, winning 19.12 (126) to 10.11(71) at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli was again supreme for the Bulldogs, while the return of Liam Jones to an injury-hit defensive unit proved telling.

In was a dirty night all round for Richmond; already without Dustin Martin and Trent Cotchin (both managed) and with co-captain Dylan Grimes a late out, the Tigers also lost Jacob Hopper (concussion) in the second quarter while Daniel Rioli played through the game but appeared to be hampered by an ankle problem.

Led by four first-quarter goals to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, the Bulldogs did as they pleased early and finished the opening term +39 in disposals, +13 in inside 50s and +12 in tackles to record their ninth-highest first-quarter score in club history.

That the match started with the smallest man in the competition, Caleb Daniel, taking a contested mark in the forward 50 and kicking truly summed up the quarter.

Richmond's pressure lifted after the first break but the damage had been done and they were unable to make serious inroads into the deficit.

Having dominated in midfield in the first half, Bontempelli was sent forward in the third term and added three goals as the lead stretched to 53 points by the final change.

The skipper finished with 32 possessions and nine tackles while his partner in crime Tom Liberatore continued his brilliant season, picking up 31 disposals and a game-high 12 tackles.

Tall trio Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Rory Lobb combined for 10 goals up forward, while Jones had eight intercept marks in the opening half alone in a welcome return from injury.

WESTERN BULLDOGS 9.3 12.5 16.7 19.12 (126)
RICHMOND 2.1 5.5 7.8 10.11 (71)

GOALS

Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 5, Bontempelli 3, Naughton 3, Lobb 2, West 2, Daniel 2, Weightman, English
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Ross 2, Cumberland, Bolton, Baker, Pickett, Bauer

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Ugle-Hagan, Jones, Treloar, Naughton
Richmond: Taranto, Prestia, Short

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Anthony Scott (concussion)
Richmond: Jacob Hopper (concussion), Daniel Rioli (ankle)

LATE CHANGES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Richmond: Dylan Grimes (neck) replaced in the selected side by Sam Banks

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Arthur Jones (replaced Anthony Scott in the third quarter)
Richmond: Rhyan Mansell (replaced Jacob Hopper in the second quarter)

Crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium