A much-improved Richmond outfit has conceded the last three goals of the game to be edged out by the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.
Leading by 14 points late in the third term, Richmond couldn't hold off the home side as they kicked six goals to three in the final quarter to snatch victory by 10 points.
The lead changed five times in the pulsating last quarter, with Bulldog Jake Stringer kicking the last two goals of the match - and a total of four in the second half - to seal the result.
The Tigers had led by seven points midway through the last quarter after Shane Edwards set up a Jack Riewoldt goal with a clever pass and roved the next centre clearance to snap a major of his own.
Jack Redpath then redeemed two earlier botched final-quarter scoring attempts to level the scores before Stringer put the Dogs in front for good with his third goal at the 23-minute mark.
An injection of youth with the inclusions of Jason Castagna, and Oleg Markov on debut, resulted in a reinvigorated Tigers line-up attacking the contest and matching it with the Bulldogs on their much vaunted home deck.
In game-three Castagna bobbed up for his first AFL goal from a well-taken snap in the first quarter, before adding a second in the third quarter to go with his 19 touches.
Markov finished with 18 touches and four tackles in his first outing at the highest level, taking the game on from defence and linking up well with his team mates.
Dustin Martin was outstanding for the Tigers all over the ground with his trademark mix of grunt and class. The Richmond star finished with a game-high 38 possessions, eight clearances and six inside 50s.
Shaun Hampson made a strong return from injury, dominating the ruck for the Tigers, while Trent Cotchin (28 possessions) continued his strong form through the middle and Alex Rance marshalled Richmond's defence.
Just one point separated the teams at the major break after a hard-fought first half.
TheBulldogs look sharper in the opening minutes and took advantage of somepoor turnovers by Richmond to kick two of the first three goals.
TheDogs led by nine points after a rushed behind at the 24-minute mark ofthe first term, but a clever snapped goal from Jason Castagna helpedRichmond close the gap to two points at the first break.
Castagna'sgoal was the first of four straight for the Tigers, who led by 12points midway through the second term after majors from Edwards, JackRiewoldt and Sam Lloyd.
With Nick Vlastuin keeping Stringer on a short rein, the Bulldogs were struggling to find a target inside their forward 50.
However, Bontempelli stepped up to take a strong mark at the 19-minute mark and converted from 45m.
Andwhen Tory Dickson made Richmond pay the full price of a turnover from aDylan Grimes kick-in down the centre, the Bulldogs led by one pointheading into half-time.
- with Nick Bowen, AFL Media
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.3 5.9 6.11 12.13 (85)
RICHMOND 3.1 6.2 8.6 11.9 (75)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Stringer 4, Bontempelli 2, Redpath 2, Suckling, Smith, Dickson, Johannisen
Richmond: Castagna 2, Riewoldt 2, Edwards 2, Griffiths, Cotchin, Lloyd, Ellis, McBean
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Hunter, Bontempelli, Stringer, Wood, Suckling
Richmond: Martin, Cotchin, Rance, Edwards, Vlastuin, Hampson, Markov
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Liberatore (ribs)
Richmond: Nil
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Bannister, Chamberlain
Official crowd: 39,679 at Etihad Stadium
