The Western Bulldogs were lucky to escape with a ten-point win over the Richmond Tigers on Saturday night, after the Tigers led for large portions of the game.
» Click here for the full match report
Final score
Bulldogs 12.13.85
Tigers 11.9.75
The Western Bulldogs will be looking to continue their push into the top four when they take on the struggling Richmond Tigers at Etihad Stadium. Join The Roar for our live scores and blog from 7:25pm (AEST).
The Bulldogs are coming off one of their best wins of the season after defeating the Swans at the SCG by three points with Jason Johannisen the hero. Playing his first game since severely injuring his hamstring in Round 4, Johannisen kicked a 45-metre goal seconds before the siren to give his side victory.
It may not have been one of their prettiest victories but it was the type that wins finals. Led by midfielders Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hansen and Matthew Boyd, the Dogs came from 16 points down in the third quarter to hold off the Swans.
The Tigers are coming off another disappointing loss, this one against Port Adelaide by 38 points last Friday. The defeat put the Tigers in the spotlight this week after coach Damien Hardwick declared their finals chances had all but gone.
The Tigers’ struggles this season are due to the lack of development of their middle-tier and some of their younger players. Players such as Ivan Maric, Tyrone Vickery and Troy Chaplin have been very disappointing and younger players such as Brandon Ellis and Nick Vlastuin have stalled.
Richmond’s best players – captain Trent Cotchin, Brett Deledio, Alex Rance and, in particular, Dustin Martin – have been very good. Martin has taken a big step up this season, averaging 28 possessions a game, and seems to have matured as a player. His last few weeks, in particular, have seen him produce the best football of his career.
Unless these players get more support the Tigers will continue to struggle and it’s no surprise they rank a lowly 14th in inside 50s this season.
The Bulldogs will trouble the Tigers with their pace in the midfield and across half-back and the Tigers’ forwards will have to work harder than they did last week in keeping the ball in their forward line.
The Dogs also have areas they can improve in, particularly up front. The last six games have seen the Bulldogs average just 76 points a game.
Jake Stringer has been good this year but has taken a step back and Tom Boyd hasn’t played enough due to injury, poor form and now a club suspension. Jack Redpath has shown improvement at times but you get the feeling the Dogs need a lift from their forwards to be a threat come September.
Down back, the Dogs have once again lost defender Marcus Adams and will need to ensure Jack Riewoldt doesn’t cause too much damage up forward.
The Tigers have bitten the bullet and dropped four players, including Maric and Vickery, and have decided to give youth a chance with rookies Daniel Rioli, Jason Castagna, Liam McBean and first-gamer Oleg Markov all coming into the side.
Prediction
With such an inexperienced team it’s hard to see the Tigers overcoming a highly skilled side like the Bulldogs, although it will be great to watch Martin and Bontempelli battling it out in the middle.
Bulldogs by 46 points.
Be sure to join The Roar from 7:25pm (AEST) to follow all of the action with our live scores and blog.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
» Click here for the full match report FINAL SCORES WESTERN BULLDOGS 12.13.85 RICHMOND TIGERS 11.9.75 MVP VOTES 3. Dustin Martin (Rich) - Bontempelli put a huge case to get this vote, but Martin was the reason it was even close. 2. Marcus Bontempelli (WB) - 25 possessions, 8 clearances, 8 tackles and two goals plus terrific last quarter to drag the Dogs home 1. Easton Wood (WB) - Could have given this to a few players but if we're talking 'valuable' this guy took some telling marks.
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
FINAL SIREN at Etihad and the Bulldogs have won a thriller by 10 points! WBD 12 . 13 . 85 RICH 11 . 9 . 75
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
1 min left Dogs look home
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Stringer three goals in this quarter
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Throw in Dogs forward pocket....Bontempelli intercepts handball by Menadue hand balls to Stringer who snaps a GOAL!! WBD 12 . 13 . 85 RICH 11 . 8 . 74 Q4 2'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Dogs lead tackle count 14-4 this quarter
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
3 mins remaining
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Easton Wood some important marks in defence this quarter
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
39,679 the attendance tonight
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Jong at half forward finds Stringer on the chest 40m out. Kicks a GOAL! Dogs back in front WBD 11 . 13 . 79 RICH 11 . 8 . 74 Q4 4'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
5 mins left Tigers by a point
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Tigers out of the middle...Riewoldt snaps!!Misses! WBD 10 . 13 . 73 RICH 11 . 8 . 74 Q4 6'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Dickson in the middle to Wallis who finds Jong at half forward...pass to Redpath all by himself...runs to 20 and kicks the GOAL!! Score level!! WBD 10 . 13 . 73 RICH 11 . 7 . 73 Q4
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Dogs on the counter sees Stringer go long to goalsquare to Webb...great spoil Astbury WBD 9 . 13 . 67 RICH 11 . 7 . 73 Q4 7'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Edwards has been huge this quarter
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Castagna kicks the ball from the ball up...Boyd with a poor attempt at spoiling allows Edwards to pick and snap another GOAL! Two in a minute for the Tigers. WBD 9 . 12 . 66 RICH 11 . 7 . 73 Q4 9'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Edwards backed into a pocket on the boundary somehow squeezes a pass into the goal square to Riewoldt...who kicks the Tigers back in front ...a THRILLER at Etihad!! WBD 9 . 12 . 66 RICH 10 . 7 . 67 Q4 9'
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Tigers give away another 50. This time too far out to score
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Tough on Conca there, had no chance
Lou Lando
Roar Guru
Conca is caught with the ball, free to Bontempelli...50m penalty ...oh this is huge. Bont to kick from 10m and kicks the GOAL! WBD 9 . 12 . 66 RICH 9 . 7 . 61 Q4 12'