Richmond haven't been able to capitalise on a fast start, as the Western Bulldogs ran out winners, 11.14 (80) to 11.9 (75) at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
For the second week in a row the Tigers came out with intent against a more fancied team and impressed early, this time going to a 32-point lead two minutes into the second quarter, but the game tightened up and the Bulldogs clawed their way back into the contest.
Jack Riewoldt kicked the 500th goal of his career when he scored his first major of the game midway through the opening quarter, and finished with four goals for the game to be one of the Tigers' best players.
Dustin Martin (28 possessions, six clearances and two goals) did all he could to get Richmond over the line, while Shaun Grigg (29 possessions and one goal) and Josh Caddy (20 and one) were also valuable contributors through the middle of the ground, and Alex Rance provided his typical mix of defence and counter-attack in the back half.
Nick Vlastuin left the ground early in the second term with a shoulder injury and didn't return to the field, leaving Richmond one player short for the rest of the match.
For the Dogs Josh Dunkley also injured a shoulder in the last term and Jake Stringer hurt his knee.
The entire match was played at a frenetic pace and the Tigers' intensity at the man and ball would give their fans plenty to smile about, but ultimately it was the Doggie supporters that went home grinning.
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick could not fault his team's effort, but said the Bulldogs' edge in class had told at the end of the game.
"We probably lacked a little bit of courage towards the end of the last quarter when the game probably tightened up," Hardwick said.
"In fairness, the pressure around the ball was pretty high. I think the Bulldogs' pressure rating soared through the roof that last quarter and it's why they sit where they do we just probably couldn't get the ball out of defensive 50 cleanly enough to get a nice efficient shot on goal at the other end.
"We probably butchered the ball inside 50 a little bit too at various stages, but there are a lot of positives to take out of the game tonight for us."
The Tigers came out roaring from the first bounce, opening their account in little more than a minute when Martin accepted a Riewoldt handball and ran into goal unopposed.
The Bulldogs hit back soon after when Jake Stringer soccered a brilliant goal on the half-volley, but the Tigers then took over, kicking four unanswered goals to go into the first break with a 26-point lead.
Riewoldt kicked two of those– the first after he lost opponent Zaine Cordy in a marking contest midway through the first term was his 500th – and Dan Butler snapped the last after brilliantly gathering a half-volley at full pace.
The Bulldogs used Josh Dunkley, 190cm, as their ruckman for most of the first term as Tom Boyd was stationed in attack, with Richmond, primarily thanks to debutant Ivan Soldo, winning the quarter's hit-outs 20-1, including a 6-0 advantage at centre bounces.
Defender Fletcher Roberts won the Dogs' only hit-out for the first term, but his team still managed to win the clearances 11-9.
When Riewoldt kicked his third goal in the opening 90 seconds of the second quarter, the Tigers had kicked five unanswered goals and led by 32 points.
Tom Boyd returned to the ruck for the Bulldogs in the second quarter and helped arrest the Tigers' ruck dominance, winning 10 hit-outs for the term as the Dogs won that stat 11-9.
The Bulldogs also started to get on top in general play but struggled to convert in front of goal, kicking 3.5 for the quarter.
They cut the Tigers' lead to 13 points when Smith goaled with a left-foot snap at the 19-minute mark, but a late Martin goal helped Richmond go into half-time with an 18-point lead.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.1 4.6 8.11 11.14 (80)
RICHMOND 5.3 7.6 9.7 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Smith 4, Adams 2, Stringer, Picken, McLean, Bontempelli, Hunter
Richmond: Riewoldt 4, Martin 2, Butler, Miles, Lambert, Caddy, Grigg
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus, Bontempelli, Hunter, Smith, Macrae, T.Boyd
Richmond: Martin, Riewoldt, Rance, Grigg, Caddy, Houli
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Stringer (knee), Dunkley (shoulder)
Richmond: Vlastuin (shoulder)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Deboy, Meredith, Ryan
Official crowd: 46,387 at Etihad Stadium
