Adam Treloar’s calf injury only concern for Western Bulldogs as Marcus Bontempelli, Sam Darcy lead big win over Richmond Tigers

Treloar wasn’t needed on Sunday as the Dogs, led by smooth-moving skipper Marcus Bontempelli, ran riot in the second quarter, kicking 7.3 (45) to the Tigers one behind to put the result beyond doubt.

In an otherwise dreary encounter, Bontempelli was good to watch as he loped around the forward half of the ground, damaging with his possessions and kicking three goals, including the first of the match.

The win sets up the Bulldogs to make a charge towards the top four, even though their wins against teams above them on the ladder so far this year have been rare.

Beveridge was not shying away from that reality, but said the club’s focus was to improve each week. He cited turnovers in the back half as the biggest issue that has denied them victory over the league’s better teams.

“We are not worried about courage and contest and the defensive side. It is offence that we need to continue to tidy up against the better sides,” Beveridge said.

Small forward Rhylee West, who is becoming one of the Bulldogs most important players, said the team was facing up to the weekly challenges rather than looking too far ahead.

“We’ll keep building and go into next week off a strong fourth quarter performance and carry that confidence into Sydney (this Friday night at the SCG),” West said.

The Bulldogs were a class above the young Tigers in that final quarter, although Richmond didn’t help themselves as Noah Balta refused to pay Sam Darcy any respect.

Darcy kicked three goals in the first half without breaking into a sweat while Balta gave him too much leeway. Darcy finished with five goals as he continues to build his form after returning from his knee injury last week.

Richmond coach Adem Yze said Balta was below his best, and although it was difficult for him to be at his best, given he is unable to play night games because of a court-imposed curfew he received when he pleaded guilty to an assault he committed at the end of last year, he was doing the best he could to perform.

He suspected the team’s inability to make the most of its scoring opportunities early might have “broken our spirit”.

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“Our second quarter we just lost our way,” Yze said.

Darcy’s teammates inside the Dogs’ forward 50 metres, West and Aaron Naughton, did the heavy work as the midfield gave them ample opportunities to score. If the midfield didn’t win the ball, Rory Lobb, Bailey Dale and Bailey Williams rebounded from the defensive 50m.

Richmond’s work rate was poor, with their midfield not as interested in spreading from the contest to defend. Bontempelli, Richards, Kennedy and Liberatore made them pay, while Sam Davidson roamed his wing to rack up possessions whenever support was needed.

The freedom Richmond allowed their opponents was unforgivable because it’s well known that this version of Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs can slaughter inferior opposition, which is what they did as they went to work on the Tigers.

They dominated uncontested possession and did as they pleased in the second and third quarters.

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The Bulldogs’ past four wins have all been by more than 70 points, with this match’s 79-point margin a fair reflection of the gap between the two teams.

Tom Lynch shaped as Richmond’s only viable avenue to goal, and kicked three of them, while Nick Vlastuin – who twice copped a knee to the back of the head from Naughton in marking contests – battled hard in his usual fashion.

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