Luke Beveridge has given himself some breathing room from growing criticism with Western Bulldogs finishing 19.19 (133) over a depleted Richmond 6.6 (42).
The win was comfortably the biggest of any club in 2024, eclipsing the previous largest of 76 points.
Richmond were cruelled by the injuries of Jack Graham (hamstring), Sam Banks (concussion/neck) and Maurice Rioli Jnr (leg) – in the process growing their injury list bigger than can be believed.
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The 3-2-1… (With Will Faulkner)
3 – TIGERS GET A BEVERIDGE BASHING
After six days of relentless pressure towards Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, at least some of the heat thrown his way has been diverted.
The Tigers may have been dealt injuries in the third quarter that completely derailed the slim, slim chances of a comeback, but truth be told – the Dogs were well ahead of the game before wounds intervened.
Alarm bells were ringing well before quarter time, with the likes of Riley Garcia, Liam Jones and Aaron Naughton taking the game away from Richmond before they even stood a chance.
Fox Footy’s analysis at the first break held true for the rest of the match, and spoke volumes of both Richmond’s poor performance and the Bulldogs’ ability to keep their foot on the throat.
“Richmond (have) just no answers when they’re going forward,” former Hawthorn gun Ben Dixon said.
“They had to now send someone to Liam Jones, who was very good in that first quarter,” Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson replied.
“He was assertive as he always is with his positioning; the effect from it is so positive for the Bulldogs.”
Unfortunately for Richmond, Jones became the least of their problems – with all Dogs getting off the chain from there on in.James Harmes played arguably the game of his life with four goals from his 27 disposals, while Ed Richards and Adam Treloar both ticked over the 30-disposal mark well before the final siren.
Treloar finished with a mammoth 41 touches, 10 score involvements and nine inside fifties – as well as a cracking snap from the boundary.
Richards claimed a match-high 12 inside 50’s and 10 tackles.
2 – ‘DISAPPOINTING’ RICHMOND DEALT CRUEL CARDS AMONG POOR PERFORMANCE
Adam Yze had a horror night from the coaches box, whether it was in or out of his control.
Jack Riewoldt – a club icon – had seen enough at the half time break, expressing the emotions of all the Richmond faithful.
“I think at the moment Richmond people at the game and at home would be very disappointed – really, really disappointed,” Riewoldt said.
“Sitting here as an ex-Richmond player, it’s not great watching for the Tigers at the moment.
“There’s been games this year that sides haven’t had 47 inside 50’s in a game, and the Dogs have had 43 in the first half – at the moment it’s a one-sided equation.”
The former full-forward implored Yze to give star Shai Bolton an extended run in the midfield, with the 25-year-old essentially unsighted in the first half.
“Shai Bolton’s has four possessions… he was at one centre bounce in that second quarter, and Richmond got their one goal from it,” –
Riewoldt’s comments came before a nightmare third quarter at Tigerland, as Jack Graham was subbed out with another injury – this time his hamstring.
Not long after his subbing, a sickening landing to Sam Banks left the young player motionless on the MCG turf.
Banks fell neck-first into the ground after a collision with Tim English mid-air, and was subsequently stretchered off with the upmost precaution.
“(It’s) a pretty distressing view when someone goes down so limp on the ground like that,” Riewoldt said on Banks’ clash.
Thankfully, Riewoldt revealed at the final break that Banks was conscious and talking to medical staff, albeit with a headache.
In a stat that would further disheartens Richmond’s forward structure and output, the Tigers incredibly had just one mark inside 50 at three-quarter time.
And in the dying minutes of the last quarter, the leg of Maurice Rioli Jnr was caught under himself and an opponent during a tackle, which resulted in the second Tigers players for the night exiting the field on a stretcher.
Rioli was seen hobbling in extreme discomfort in the rooms at the end of the game in worrying signs for fans.
However, among all the negative news, veteran Nick Vlastuin was credited for his efforts in a rare shining light for Richmond; with Riewoldt believing the scoreline could’ve remarkably been even worse without his efforts.
“If the Tigers didn’t have Nick Vlastuin tonight, certainly this scoreboard could be looking worse than what it is now for Richmond supporters,” Riewoldt admitted.
1 – DOGS FORWARD LINE FINDS ‘EVOLVING’ YOUNG STAR, CONTINUITY
Among all the bad news for Tigers fan, Bulldogs fans can certainly find solace in the fact their forward performed out of their skin, and importantly with continuity.
Young gun Sam Darcy, alongside Aaron Naughton and James Harmes all kicked four goals in one of their most synergetic performances in recent years.
Darcy and Harmes’ four-goal haul was a career high, with the latter’s display particularly eye-catching given his usual half-forward role.
Harmes has only kicked four goals once before – back in 2016 for Melbourne against Brisbane in a 63-point win.
It wasn’t just off their own boot that they were getting involved though, with Naughton gathering 11 score involvements, while Harmes and Darcy had 10 each.
Darcy in particular caught the eye of Jack Riewoldt, with his growth notable in recent weeks.
“He’s evolving in front of our eyes Sam Darcy – he’s kicked multiple goals over the last month of footy,” Riewoldt exclaimed.
“He’s getting a juicy match-up tonight (due to his height) – he’s got Nick Vlastuin… he’s starting to get this ball at the highest point (when marking).”
Riley Garcia was also influential for his two goals and 19 disposals, with his inclusion in the team these last few weeks proving a masterstroke.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rhylee West both had quiet nights for their one goal apiece, with the other three main forwards standing up in their place.
Their forward line has been a topic of conversation – mainly for worse – but tonight’s performance has shown they’re capable of working together, even if it’s against a depleted Richmond defence.
RICHMOND v WESTERN BULLDOGS – AS IT HAPPENED
There were no late changes, with Noah Cumberland (Richmond) and Luke Keary (Western Bulldogs) named the starting subs.
Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli got the Bulldogs to a near perfect start, snapping a congested ball from inside 50 quickly through the big sticks.
Aaron Naughton and Riley Garcia made it three quick goals for the Dogs, starting exactly how they did against the Hawks in their close loss last Sunday.
Garcia in particular has started on a heater, with four score involvements from his first four disposals after the first 10 minutes of the match.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan launched a set shot from long range just before the halfway mark of the quarter, but pushed it just left of the goals.
A Jack Macrae behind not long after pushed the score to 23-0 in favour of the Western Bulldogs.
A mixture of inaccurate kicking and a warming Richmond defence stemmed the flow of scoring, with the quarter time score reading Western Bulldogs 3.6 (24) to Richmond 0.1 (1).
Speaking at quarter time on Fox Footy, Western Bulldogs champion Brad Johnson expected the Tigers would change their game plan to try and turn the tide of momentum.
“I think they’ll set up a little bit differently with better structure in this second quarter to try and restrict the number of inside 50’s the Bulldogs are getting,” Johnson said.
Rhyan Mansell marked a ball from clearance instantly at the start of the second quarter, and converted with no issues – bringing the margin to 17 points very early in the second quarter.
Young gun Sam Darcy responded nearly just as quickly though, slotting through his first of the night from a set shot 40 metres out on a slight angle.
Darcy went back to the well just two minutes later, taking a tall mark around traffic to slot his second for the quarter.
Naughton joined his 208cm teammate on the multiple goal kickers list, nailing a set shot from just outside the 50 metre arc to kick the Bulldogs’ lead out to 35 points a quarter of the way through the second term.
After a long wait, Maurice Rioli Jnr broke Richmond’s goal deadlock, snapping on his right side after a chaotic passage of play.
A pin-perfect banana from Rhylee West gave James Harmes his first goal in Bulldogs colours – a simple conversion from 15 metres out on a slight angle.
Laitham Vandermeer was subbed halfway through the second quarter with a shin injury, injecting Luke Clearly into the match for his sixth AFL game.
It didn’t take Harmes long to double his goals tally at the Dogs, snapping from deep in the left forward pocket to kick his second in as many minutes.
Noah Balta gave the Tigers a rare spark, leaving Liam Jones in such a rabble he gave up on a chase – before snapping a beautiful banana on the run.
Harmes kicked his third for the quarter in the dying stages of the second term, channeling his football skills from another code to convert truly.
The Bulldogs lead the Tigers by 47 points at the main break, and could be much further in front given their 13 behinds.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s half-time coverage, three-time Richmond premiership player Jack Riewoldt was ‘disappointed’ in his former side’s efforts.
“Sitting here as an ex-Richmond player, it’s not great watching for the Tigers at the moment,” Riewoldt said.
“There’s been games this year that sides haven’t had 47 inside 50’s in a game, and the Dogs have had 43 in the first half – at the moment it’s a one-sided equation.”
Ed Richards finished the half with 18 disposals, as well as a whopping eight score involvements and seven inside 50’s.
Richmond’s Jayden Short had 14 disposals himself to lead the Tigers’ count, but with notably less impact than Richards.
Bontempelli, Adam Treloar and Darcy all kicked early goals to begin the third quarter, with Treloar’s undoubtedly the highlight of the three.
The margin stretched to 65 points with Darcy’s goal.
It went from bad to worse for the Tigers, with Aaron Naughton snapping his third for the night after a free kick was awarded his way.
Jack Graham was subbed out of the game for Richmond with a hamstring injury, with the Saturday night match quickly becoming a nightmare for all involved with the yellow and black.
Noah Cumberland was subbed in as his replacement.
The luck continued to avoid the Tigers, with an awful collision forcing Sam Banks off the ground on a stretcher.
A neck and concussion injury is the main concern for the young player, with play stopped for several minutes as a result.
“This is the last thing Richmond needs,” Channel 7 commentator Alister Nicholson said as Banks was attended to by medical staff.
The Tigers trailed by eleven goals at the final break.
A flurry of goals kicked off the final quarter, with Rhylee West, Marlion Pickett and Aaron Naughton all kicking goals within the first two minutes.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan kicked his first just over a minute later with a great set shot snap from the left pocket, extending the margin out to a whopping 83 points.
Sam Darcy joined the last quarter party quickly after, kicking his fourth and putting the Tigers in real danger of becoming the first team in 2024 to lose by triple figures.
James Harmes registered his fourth goal for the match on a slight angle, in a elite individual performance.
Garcia kicked his second while running across an open goal before the halfway mark of the quarter for his second of the night, and ticked the margin beyond 100 points – with plenty of time for further damage.
Shai Bolton had a chance with nine minutes remaining to bring the lead back under 100, but missed from a tight angle in the right forward pocket.
With four and a half minutes to go, inclusion Dion Prestia slotted his first goal for the night to bring the margin back below the dreaded triple figures.
In the final cherry on top for a depleted Richmond side, Maurice Rioli Jnr was stretchered off with what looked a bad leg injury.
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