Richmond has fallen to the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium for the fourth straight time, losing 7.10 (52) to 15.9 (99) on Saturday night.
The Dogs ran the Tigers off their feet, finding plenty of space to run into, delivering the ball cleanly from one end of the ground to the other, and when they got the ball forward Aaron Naughton provided the necessary class to finish the job with five goals.
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Naughton's prominence highlighted the absence of Richmond's two pillars down back, Alex Rance (right knee reconstruction) and David Astbury (left ankle), while hamstrung captain Trent Cotchin's excellence through the midfield could certainly have been used.
Boom recruit Tom Lynch was kept goalless by Jackson Trengove and was buried in a bruising tackle by the former Port Adelaide utility, who made a compelling case to lock down a spot in the Dogs' best 22.
There was little for the Tigers to get excited about other than Dustin Martin showing glimpses of his best and another exciting outing from Sydney Stack in just his fifth game.
Dion Prestia, Kane Lambert and Martin all worked hard while Stack and Jack Ross continued their impressive debut campaigns.
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Marcus Bontempelli was all class and slotted three goals to lend scoring support to Naughton for the Bulldogs, while Josh Dunkley continued his upward form curve of late.
Richmond had its three-match win streak broken, and now sits 4-3 in a topsy-turvy year which has seen upsets occur with remarkable regularity.
MEDICAL ROOM
Electric forward Daniel Rioli was forced to the bench with a left thigh complaint after a heavy collision in a marking contest with Lachie Young in the opening term, but returned to the field. Important defender Nick Vlastuin went down to the rooms battling a leg concern but came back on and contributed well.
NEXT UP
Richmond close out Round 8 when it travels west to face Fremantle on Sunday.
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, McLean, Lloyd, Smith, Johannisen, Richards
Richmond: Stack, Baker, Ross, Caddy, McIntosh, Houli, Balta
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Naughton, Bontempelli, Macrae, Dunkley, McLean, Daniel, Lloyd
Richmond: Stack, Prestia, Lambert, Vlastuin, Martin
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Richmond: Rioli (ribs, corked thigh)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fisher, Stephens, Hay
Official crowd: TBC at Marvel Stadium
