Richmond has suffered a disappointing 19-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in Round 2, in front of 49,945 fans at the MCG.

 

The Bulldogs led from start to finish, answering every challenge the Tigers could muster.

 

Richmond finished on top in disposals, contested possessions, clearances and inside 50s, but

 

Defender Alex Rance was a strong contributor in a losing cause, picking up 28 disposals, continually repelling attacking threats and trying to creating attacking moves.

 

Midfielders Trent Cotchin (34 possessions), Dustin Martin (31 and six tackles), Anthony Miles (27 and six clearances) toiled hard throughout.

 

Spearhead Jack Riewoldt was the Tigers’ leading goalkicker with two, while Tory Dickson booted four goals for the Bulldogs.

 

Shane Edwards was a late withdrawal for Richmond with a calf injury, joining the suspended Brett Deledio on the sidelines.

 

After the Bulldogs controlled the early exchanges, the game’s first goal came from Mitch Honeychurch.

 

Five minutes later, an unlikely source kicked things off for the Tigers, with Dylan Grimes sneaking forward to fire home from long range.

 

Back-to-back Bulldog goals had the lead out to 14 points, before a team-lifting goal from Martin ended the quarter on a high for the Tigers.

 

The Tiger midfielder was busy in the early stages, collecting 11 disposals in the opening term.

 

Richmond dominated for large parts of the second quarter, enjoying a lopsided territorial advantage, however they found themselves 14 points in arrears at the main break.

 

Ricky Petterd was the sole goalkicker of the term, from a strong mark and set shot.

 

Richmond started the second half brightly, with Sam Lloyd kicking truly from a long-range set shot.

 

The Bulldogs then dominated the next phase of play, kicking three-straight goals to blow the margin out to over four goals.

 

Goals to Tiger key targets Jack Riewoldt and Ben Griffiths turned the tide briefly, but the Bulldogs kicked the final two goals of the term through Jake Stringer and Jarrad Grant to make it a tough ask for the home side.

 

Riewoldt and Chris Newman added goals to start the final term to bring the margin back to 16 points, however the Bulldogs held firm in the final stages.

 

The Tigers take on the Brisbane Lions on the road in Round 3 next weekend.

 

Richmond -                     2.3          3.6          6.8          9.12. 66

Western Bulldogs -          3.5          5.8          10.13     12.13. 85

 

Richmond – Riewoldt 2, Grimes, Martin, Petterd, Lloyd, Griffiths, Newman, Gordon

Western Bulldogs – Dickson 4, Crameri 2, Stringer 2, Honeychurch, Wallis, Grant, Wood

Best: 
Richmond - Rance, Martin, Cotchin, Miles, McIntosh
Western Bulldogs - Dickson, Wallis, Bontempelli, Macrae, Talia, M.Boyd