The Western Bulldogs have all but locked in their place inside this year’s top 10, defeating Richmond by 57 points at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.
After a scrappy opening term, the Bulldogs burst away to ensure no upset would be forced on them — winning 15.15 (105) over the Tigers’ 7.6 (48).
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Round 20
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Ed Richards was the star of the show for Luke Beveridge’s side, collecting a game-high 32 disposals, 11 inside 50s, 662 metres gained and two goals to tuck away best-on-ground honours.
Fellow partner-in-crime Marcus Bontempelli was especially prevalent after half time, finishing with 29 touches and two majors of his own.
Up forward, the Dogs shared the scoreboard load with 11 individual goalkickers — four of whom bagged multiple. Down back, Michael Sellwood starred with a dozen intercept possessions, four more than any other player on the night.
Western Bulldogs goalkickers: West, Weightman, Richards, Bontempelli 2, Naughton, Davidson, Croft, Dolan, Jones, Hynes, English
Richmond goalkickers: Lynch, Lefau 2, Lalor, Mansell, Taranto
THE 3-2-1…
3. SUPERSTAR DUO LEADS DOGS TO PROMISE LAND
Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, it was Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards who spearheaded the Western Bulldogs home to a victory at Marvel Stadium.
It wasn’t quite against the competition’s best opposition and there was plenty of room for their teammates to improve, but the Marvel Stadium crowd were still treated to a clinic from the competition’s best.
It was Richards’ first half that blitzed the Tigers from the get-go, as Bontempelli initially dealt with close attention from Richmond’s youngsters around the ball.
The 27-year-old finished the clash with a match-high 149 ranking points, complementing his 32 disposals and two goals among a host of other large-numbered stats.
“I’m pretty cooked! The boys fought hard today, so it was good to get the win,” Richards told Fox Footy after the final siren.
“I thought we were in control of it, so that’s a real positive going into next week.
“Our forward line can be quite potent when we’re up and going. I thought they were great tonight presenting at the ball … credit to them , they were great — and our backs held up super well tonight, so I’m really proud of them for that.”
Carlton and Adelaide great Eddie Betts noted at the final break: “He’s an absolute star. If you can’t get ‘Bont’, Ed’s the other one that you need to get.
“Kingy spoke about it perfectly during that quarter: It’s Bont and Ed, and everyone else needs to catch up.”
Then, there was Marcus Bontempelli.
While the Bulldogs skipper had plenty of impact in the first half, he was slightly limited with 11 disposals heading into the main break and zero shots on goal.
A hot final term saw the superstar come home with an even wetter sail though, racking up 10 disposals and slotting two majors after three-quarter time to show a youthful Richmond outfit how it’s done.
2. ‘SUB-STANDARD’: TIGERS’ GRITTY START UNDONE BY ‘SEVERE’ LAPSE
They may have lost their last three duels against the Bulldogs by an average of 75 points, but at quarter time on Saturday night, Richmond looked scrappy enough to make their opponents sweat.
Having kicked two of the first three goals for the clash, Adem Yze’s side backed up their early scoreboard success with one of their better pressure displays for 2026.
With a season average of 166 heading into the Round 20 match, the Tigers outdid the Bulldogs 186-172 in the first quarter for the metric in what promised to be a sign of things to come.
“They started well, and it wasn’t just the midfield. It was the backline and forward line — everywhere the ball went, they were getting at them,” Carlton and Adelaide great Eddie Betts said at quarter time.
“Nick Vlastuin led the charge down there (in defence) … getting at them the whole time.”
It saw them down by just two points at the first break, in a season where hot starts have eluded them.
The Tigers have been level at quarter time with their opponents four times this season, and led at the first change just thrice in 20 matches.
Unfortunately, a scoreless quarter for the first time in 2026 undid a lot of their hard work, with only the Bulldogs’ inaccuracy in front of goal saving them from a complete drubbing.
“Richmond’s pressure was fantastic in that first quarter, but then their tackle efficiency dropped severely … and they gave away too many easy tackles,” three-time Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt told Fox Footy at half time.
“They allowed what was a really constricted game, that Adem Yze really would’ve loved, to then open up. Clearly, the Dogs were the better side once the ball got out.
Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King added: “To be fair, it’s a sub-AFL standard. These guys touch the footy a thousand times a week … because if you give it back to good AFL players, they’ll maximise.
“You’ve got to take those half opportunities. What’s a 31-gap at half time, could be closer to 15 points — and you’re in the fight, in the game.
“The senior core players have to bring that one-touch game with them, or they’ll find themselves in these positions more and more over the back half of the year.”
Yze’s side were blitzed at clearance all night, and trailed 11-21 at the main break — with an extra emphasis on their 1-8 centre clearance deficit.
Their usage with Sherrin-in-hand was also below-par, as King elaborated on in the third term.
“Their skill level, the Tigers, is really letting them down. It’s just forcing them to play a really boring game,” he said.
“Basically, the only way they can hang onto the ball is by kicking backwards. Every time they go forwards, they just can’t seem to find the easy target.”
1. KEEP THE LAST WEEKEND OF AUGUST FREE, DOGS FANS
So, is that a wildcard spot — at worst — sewn up for Luke Beveridge’s side?
You’d suspect as much, now sitting with a 12-7 record and a month of football to play.
It’s now only their meagre percentage of 96.8 that prevents complete certainty over their status in the top 10; a gap that now looks improbable of being narrowed before the end of the home-and-away season.
An away trip to Perth off a six-day break makes next week’s duel with Fremantle an unlikely scalp, before remaining fixtures against North Melbourne, Carlton and Melbourne back in Victoria.
GWS’ loss to Sydney on Saturday evening all but confirmed their status beyond Round 24, while a St Kilda loss to North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon would also be of benefit.
Beveridge’s club haven’t progressed past the first weekend of September since their 2021 Grand Final appearance.
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