For the second consecutive week, the Western Bulldogs have put a struggling team to the sword, backing up their 72-point demolition of St Kilda with an even more dominant 79-point victory over Richmond.
The win gives Luke Beveridge's men the second-highest percentage in the competition behind only competition leaders Collingwood and lifts them into the top eight.
Star forward Sam Darcy was given plenty of leash by the Tigers' defence to run rampant, kicking 3.2 in a brilliant first half to help set up the victory and finishing with five goals and eight marks.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli, meanwhile, was back to his brilliant best with 36 disposals and 716 metres gained, after being well held by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager last week.
He played the entire second quarter, when the Dogs pulled away by kicking seven goals to zero.
"It was a good second quarter," Beveridge said of his side.
"We didn't start the second half too well. I thought Richmond came out of their rooms with a new energy, and it wasn't the greatest last quarter, so you always come away wanting more, unfortunately.
"But, ultimately, we came here today understanding Richmond (had) come out of a game leading into their bye where they weren't overly happy with their performance and would bring some venom, so we had to be on edge for that.
"To come in at halftime with a reasonably satisfying outcome in that half was really important on our journey this year.
"In totality, it's a satisfying afternoon."
Adam Treloar was subbed out in the second quarter with calf tightness, for which Beveridge provided an update on.
"He's had a fair few (soft tissue injuries) over the journey, so for us to sub him out that early in the game, there's a degree of significant concern," Beveridge said.
"As usual, it's difficult to tell the extent of an injury โ obviously (we'll let you know) pretty quickly once the experts know."
As well as the usual suspects, youngsters Josh Dolan, Cooper Hynes and Sam Davidson all earned praise from the coach in the post-match presser as they continue to show positive signs in their first year at the level.โ
Davidson was particularly influential on the wing with his run and carry, finishing with 27 disposals, 545 metres gained and a goal.
"He's been very good," Beveridge said.
"We can look at it from a couple of angles: he was obviously wing today, there's been weeks where he was mostly forward, and he's quite a prolific runner Sam and gives you a level of confidence because he's not turning 19 this year, he turns (24) this year.
"(So) just that physical maturity โ he's a bigger kid, he's (191cm) and he'll keep improving, you'll hound about one or two things, but he does a lot right, so that's encouraging.
"In a season of 23 rounds, because he's got some footy under his belt and physically he's a bit more mature, that he should be able to endure."
The tests gradually get sterner for the Dogs, which appear to have come out the other side of a lean month, with a trip to the SCG next weekend to take on Sydney, before improving North Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane await across the next month.
