RICHMOND has snapped one of its longest hoodoos with a 70-point win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
The Tigers had not defeated the Bulldogs since April, 2005, losing nine games and drawing one in that time. They kicked 22.18 (150) to 12.8 (80).
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Despite being out of the finals race, Richmond looked set for a big day when it booted the first six goals of the game to set up a seemingly insurmountable lead.
But with a recent tendency to forfeit leads, the Tigers looked wobbly at one stage in the third quarter when the Dogs kicked five of the first six goals to move within six points of the lead.
Richmond duly snapped into action and booted six of the next seven to re-establish itself.
The Tigers booted another five in the final quarter while the Bulldogs remained goalless.
Trent Cotchin was sensational around the ground, seemingly dominating in every possible aspect of the game - winning the ball, disposing of the ball, marking and tackling. In a best on ground display, Cotchin had 35 possessions, 14 of which were contested, and also chipped in with three goals.
He only got better as the game wore on, whether he was clearing the ball out of the midfield or bobbing up forward to contribute on the scoreboard.
He had plenty of mates in the yellow and black. Jack Riewoldt booted five goals and Shane Edwards was deadly when the ball was on the move in the forward 50, finishing with four.
Luke McGuane continued his career revival as a tall forward option, booting three goals for the second consecutive week.
Brian Lake was used at both ends for the Dogs to some effect. He missed two early shots and kicked two valuable goals in his team's third-quarter fight back but was at his most valuable floating across defence, intercepting some Richmond forward thrusts.
The Dogs had their work cut out for them after star midfielder Ryan Griffen was a late withdrawal after suffering back spasms in the warm-up.
Sadly for the Bulldogs, there were few positives on an all too familiar dark day.
Lake was good, while Matthew Boyd gave his usual relentless performance.
Those three players will all be 30 years old by season's end and the Bulldogs need more out of their younger players as the club takes a long-term view to achieving success.
RICHMOND 6.4 10.10 17.16 22.18 (150)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 6.4 12.5 12.8 (80)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 5, Edwards 4, Cotchin 3, McGuane 3, Grigg 2, King 2, Martin, Nahas, Newman
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Skinner 2, Lake 2, Addison, Dickson, Hooper, Smith, Wallis
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Edwards, King, Martin, Deledio, Riewoldt, McGuane
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Picken, Dickson, Wallis, Lake, Murphy
INJURIES
Richmond: Griffen (back spasm) replaced in selected side by Fletcher Roberts
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Jayden Post replaced by Brad Helbig in the fourth quarter
Western Bulldogs: Tom Campbell replaced by Fletcher Roberts in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Hay, Ryan
Official crowd: 28,286 at the MCG.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
Despite being out of the finals race, Richmond looked set for a big day when it booted the first six goals of the game to set up a seemingly insurmountable lead.
But with a recent tendency to forfeit leads, the Tigers looked wobbly at one stage in the third quarter when the Dogs kicked five of the first six goals to move within six points of the lead.
Richmond duly snapped into action and booted six of the next seven to re-establish itself.
The Tigers booted another five in the final quarter while the Bulldogs remained goalless.
Trent Cotchin was sensational around the ground, seemingly dominating in every possible aspect of the game - winning the ball, disposing of the ball, marking and tackling. In a best on ground display, Cotchin had 35 possessions, 14 of which were contested, and also chipped in with three goals.
He only got better as the game wore on, whether he was clearing the ball out of the midfield or bobbing up forward to contribute on the scoreboard.
He had plenty of mates in the yellow and black. Jack Riewoldt booted five goals and Shane Edwards was deadly when the ball was on the move in the forward 50, finishing with four.
Luke McGuane continued his career revival as a tall forward option, booting three goals for the second consecutive week.
Brian Lake was used at both ends for the Dogs to some effect. He missed two early shots and kicked two valuable goals in his team's third-quarter fight back but was at his most valuable floating across defence, intercepting some Richmond forward thrusts.
The Dogs had their work cut out for them after star midfielder Ryan Griffen was a late withdrawal after suffering back spasms in the warm-up.
Sadly for the Bulldogs, there were few positives on an all too familiar dark day.
Lake was good, while Matthew Boyd gave his usual relentless performance.
Those three players will all be 30 years old by season's end and the Bulldogs need more out of their younger players as the club takes a long-term view to achieving success.
RICHMOND 6.4 10.10 17.16 22.18 (150)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 2.3 6.4 12.5 12.8 (80)
GOALS
Richmond: Riewoldt 5, Edwards 4, Cotchin 3, McGuane 3, Grigg 2, King 2, Martin, Nahas, Newman
Western Bulldogs: Giansiracusa 3, Skinner 2, Lake 2, Addison, Dickson, Hooper, Smith, Wallis
BEST
Richmond: Cotchin, Edwards, King, Martin, Deledio, Riewoldt, McGuane
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Picken, Dickson, Wallis, Lake, Murphy
INJURIES
Richmond: Griffen (back spasm) replaced in selected side by Fletcher Roberts
Western Bulldogs: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
Richmond: Jayden Post replaced by Brad Helbig in the fourth quarter
Western Bulldogs: Tom Campbell replaced by Fletcher Roberts in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Farmer, Hay, Ryan
Official crowd: 28,286 at the MCG.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
