When and where: Saturday 11 May, 7.30pm AEST, MCG
Broadcast: Channel 7/Fox Footy/Kayo
Head-to-head: Played 160 (won 76, drawn twice, lost 82) 
Last time we met: Round 21 2023, WB 19.12 (126) def. Richmond 10.11 (71)

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What it means

After a disappointing fortnight of football, the Bulldogs will have the ultimate opportunity to respond when they face the injury-ravaged Richmond. It won’t be easy at the MCG in front of a Tigers’ home crowd, but the Dogs will draw on the support of their red, white and blue family. A win would go a long way in the Bulldogs’ bouncing back from their 3-5 season start, and fill the side with plenty of confidence. 

Who to watch

The return of Rhylee West after serving his one-week suspension should add plenty of spark to the Bulldogs’ forward 50. West has been playing some of his best footy to date, averaging a career-best 13 disposals, four marks and three tackles from seven games this year. He booted two goals from 16 disposals against the Tigers late last season, and will be looking to impact at the ‘G under Saturday night lights.

Freijah comes in

The Bulldogs will blood their fourth league debutant on Saturday night, confirming Horsham teenager Joel Freijah yesterday morning. The 18-year-old put in a mountain of work across both the pre-season and VFL to ready himself for this opportunity – which he’ll take with both hands. Development coach Alex Johnson lauded his defensive efforts for the ‘Scray last weekend, claiming it was his “best game for the footy club” to date.

Prime-time proposition

After some Sunday afternoons and a few Thursday and Friday nights, the Bulldogs will finally get the opportunity to play a prime-time Saturday night in Melbourne. It doesn’t get much bigger than at the MCG either, with the Dogs surely keen to make amends for their round one performance there earlier this year.

The Western Bulldogs have posted their highest score of the season to run out 91-point winners over Richmond at the MCG on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs were dominant from the opening bounce, holding Richmond goalless in the first quarter on their way to the crushing 19.19 (133) to 6.6 (42) victory.

The Dogs managed to play four quarters of football, with their leaders standing up throughout the contest. 

Aaron Naughton, Sam Darcy and James Harmes (four goals each) cashed in on the Bulldogs' territorial dominance as they won a lop-sided inside-50 count (77-41).

Adam Treloar (41 disposals), Marcus Bontempelli (32), Bailey Dale (30) and Ed Richards (34) were prolific ball-winners, with skipper Bontempelli and Riley Garcia adding two goals each.

Dion Prestia (23 disposals, one goal) battled hard for Richmond on return from injury, Shai Bolton kicked two majors from 19 touches and Daniel Rioli (26 possessions) was busy, but the Tigers had few winners.

Bontempelli sparked his side with a classy opening goal under pressure but the Bulldogs didn't take full toll from their early control, leading 3.6 to 0.1 at the first break.

Having not kicked a goal in Bulldogs colours before tonight, former Demon Harmes kicked three of his four goals in a blistering second quarter as the Bulldogs stretched the advantage to 47 points by half-time.

It got ugly for Richmond in the second half as Treloar squeezed through a right-foot snap under pressure on the boundary line and the margin temporarily blew out beyond 100 points.

Unlucky Tigers midfielder Graham was substituted out with yet another soft-tissue injury just minutes before Banks was hurt in an awkward landing from a third-quarter marking contest.

Dogs ruckman Tim English accidentally took Banks' legs from underneath him after being pushed into the contest by Noah Balta, with play held up for several minutes while medical staff assessed Banks before he was driven off the field on a stretcher.

The Bulldogs kicked six goals to two in the final quarter to complete the rout.

RICHMOND                      0.1     3.2      4.3       6.6 (42)
WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.6     9.13    13.15    19.19 (133)

GOALS
Richmond: Bolton 2, Balta, Mansell, Prestia, Rioli jnr
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Darcy 4, Harmes 4, Bontempelli 2, Garcia 2, Treloar, Ugle-Hagan, West

BEST
Richmond: D. Rioli, Bolton, Prestia, Short, Nankervis
Western Bulldogs: Treloar, Richards, Darcy, Harmes, Bontempelli, Dale

INJURIES
Richmond: Banks (concussion), Graham (hamstring), Rioli jnr (leg)
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (shin)

SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Noah Cumberland (replaced Jack Graham in the second quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Luke Cleary (replaced Laitham Vandermeer in the third quarter)

Crowd: 38,007 at the MCG