RICHMOND nipped at the Bulldogs' heels but was rarely able to threaten as the Dogs ran away with a 72-point win at the MCG on Sunday.

The Tigers trailed at every change and fell away in the final quarter as the Dogs won 17.18 (120) to 7.6 (48) win.

The Dogs kicked away early and had a 26-point lead by quarter time, but every time they collectively took their feet off the accelerator, the enthusiastic Tigers pushed forward.

Mitch Morton kicked Richmond’s first nine minutes into the first term and the young Tigers were showing what could best be called ‘youthful enthusiasm’, highlighted by Ben Nason’s endeavour when tackling Jason Akermanis.

But while spirit was there to see early, the final quarter for the young Tigers was disappointing.

With the result a fait accompli very early on, the Dogs simply did enough. They answered every Richmond goal with three or four and gradually increased their lead with each term, sucking the spirit out of the young Tigers.

Richmond                 2.0    4.5    6.6        7.6 (48)
Western Bulldogs    6.2    9.6    14.11    17.18 (120)

GOALS
Richmond: Morton 3, Martin, Nahas, Post, Vickery
Western Bulldogs: Hahn 3, Hill 3, Cooney 2, Cross, Giansiracusa, Griffen, Everitt, Hall, Higgins, Lake, Moles, Picken

BEST
Richmond: Thursfield, Newman, Cotchin, Morton
Western Bulldogs: Gilbee, Cross, Cooney, Akermanis, Higgins, Griffen, Hahn, Boyd

INJURIES
Richmond: -
Western Bulldogs: Johnson (calf) replaced in selected side by Hill

Reports: -

Umpires: McLaren, Findlay, Pannell

Official crowd: 27,358 at MCG