Dogs claw past Tigers to grab AFL thriller
May 6, 2017 - 1:33 PM The Western Bulldogs have scored a stunning come-from-behind win to hand Richmond their second defeat of the AFL season.The Tigers led by a game-high 32 points early in the second quarter at Etihad Stadium, but couldn't hold off the reigning premiers who ground out an 11.14 (80) to 11.9 (75) win in front of 46,387 fans.
The Bulldogs hit the front for the first time when Clay Smith kicked his fourth goal 17 minutes in to the final term.
Jack Riewoldt kicked his 500th career goal early in the game and booted his fourth to get the Tigers within four points as the clock ticked down.
Richmond went inside attacking 50 in the last minute of the pulsating contest but Jayden Short was penalised for a deliberate out of bounds, allowing the Bulldogs to take possession and hang on for the win.
As they have on several occasions this season, the Dogs found a way to win without playing their best football.
Dustin Martin, who finished with 28 possessions and two goals, led the way for a Richmond side that had all the momentum early.
Tigers debutant Ivan Soldo had 42 hitouts and held sway early over a Bulldogs ruck rotation of Tom Boyd, Lin Jong and Josh Dunkley.
However, Boyd was a key factor in the third term as the Dogs clawed their way back.
Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Dahlhaus and Jack Macrae imposed their will in the third term to help slice Richmond's lead to just two points at three-quarter time and set up the thrilling finale.
Both sides suffered casualties in the physical encounter.
Richmond's Nick Vlastuin departed in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, while Bulldogs duo Jake Stringer (knee) and Dunkley (shoulder) left the game in the third and last quarters respectively.
"We're making extremely hard work of (our wins) but it doesn't help when the opposition play as well as they did tonight," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said after his side improved to a 5-2 record.
"We were a little bit disappointed with our start to the game ... Richmond capitalised on everything we didn't do well.
"But again our players showed how big their hearts are."
The deliberate out of bounds deep inside Richmond's attacking 50 with 23 seconds left was contentious, but Tigers coach Damien Hardwick wouldn't be drawn on the decision.
Instead, he paid tribute to the spirit of his players.
"We could have played better (but) I couldn't fault our effort and intent, I thought it was pretty good on the night," Hardwick said.
"But we're disappointed to lose ... we probably got ourselves in a winning position, but their class showed out at the end."
Source: AAP
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