A first-quarter blitz has guided the Western Bulldogs to a crucial 55-point win over Richmond, enhancing their finals hopes.

The Bulldogs slammed home nine goals to two in the opening term to grab a 44-point lead at the first change and never looked back, winning 19.12 (126) to 10.11(71) at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Having given up a 36-point lead against Greater Western Sydney last week, the Dogs could have fallen to as low as 12th spot by the end of the round if they suffered another loss here.

As it is, they will enter the weekend in fifth spot and with their season well and truly alive.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli was again supreme for the Bulldogs, while the return of Liam Jones to an injury-hit defensive unit proved telling.

Led by four first-quarter goals to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, the Bulldogs did as they pleased early and finished the opening term +39 in disposals, +13 in inside 50s and +12 in tackles to record their ninth-highest first-quarter score in club history.

That the match started with the smallest man in the competition, Caleb Daniel, taking a contested mark in the forward 50 and kicking truly summed up the quarter.

Richmond's pressure lifted after the first break but the damage had been well and truly done and they were unable to make serious inroads into the deficit.

Having dominated in midfield in the first half, Bontempelli was sent forward in the third term and added three goals as the lead stretched to 53 points by the final change.

The skipper finished with 32 possessions and nine tackles while his partner in crime Tom Liberatore continued his brilliant season, picking up 31 disposals and a game-high 12 tackles.

Tall trio Ugle-Hagan, Aaron Naughton and Rory Lobb combined for 10 goals up forward, while Jones had eight intercept marks in the opening half alone in a welcome return from injury.

The Bulldogs travel to Launceston to take on Hawthorn next week.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     9.3    12.5    16.7   19.12 (126)
RICHMOND                     2.1    5.5      7.8     10.11 (71)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Ugle-Hagan 5, Bontempelli 3, Naughton 3, Lobb 2, West 2, Daniel 2, Weightman, English
Richmond: Riewoldt 3, Ross 2, Cumberland, Bolton, Baker, Pickett, Bauer

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Ugle-Hagan, Jones, Treloar, Naughton
Richmond: Taranto, Prestia, Short

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Anthony Scott (concussion)
Richmond: Jacob Hopper (concussion), Daniel Rioli (ankle)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Arthur Jones (replaced Anthony Scott in the third quarter)
Richmond: Rhyan Mansell (replaced Jacob Hopper in the second quarter)