This week was all about Chris Grant at the Western Bulldogs, but for the man himself it's always all about September.

The Bulldogs' 22-point AFL win over Richmond at the MCG capped off a perfect day for Grant, who kicked two goals as he moved past Doug Hawkins as the club games record holder.

Grant also had 21 possessions and took 10 marks in his 330th senior match as the Bulldogs withstood a last-quarter Richmond comeback to win 15.10 (100) to 10.18 (78).

But when the 33-year-old eventually retires and reflects on an outstanding career, will not mean as much to him as finals matches.

The Bulldogs improved to 11-7 with the win, meaning they are one or two wins away from their first finals series since 2000, and Grant craves another taste of that above anything else.

"They (finals) test you all - there's a huge 'up' to them when you win and a huge down to them when you lose," he said.

"So if we get another couple of wins, I get to experience that again.

"To be honest, I'm glad is done and dusted and we can just get on with playing footy again.

"I played this year to play finals footy and we're just about there - that's what it's all about."

If Fremantle beats Hawthorn at home, Richmond will be three games out of the finals with only four rounds left.

Grant confessed to feeling "a little bit emotional" as he ran out onto the field carrying daughters Isabella and Sascha.

After running through the banner, Grant shared a hug and a handball with Ted Whitten Jnr and Hawkins.

It was a tribute to 1994, when Hawkins took the games record from Whitten Snr and they met on the ground the same way.

But Grant settled into this game quickly, setting up the first goal and then kicking the second.

Meanwhile, Richmond went about kicking itself out of the contest.

It could only manage 0.6 in the first quarter as the Bulldogs kicked the first seven goals of the game.

Tigers coach Terry Wallace conceded that was ultimately the difference.

"We just butchered some amazing opportunities....we just didn't make the most of the opportunities that came to us," Wallace said.

But the Tigers did not let the Bulldogs blow them out of the water, as happened in round one.

Indeed, Richmond pulled to within 16 points midway through the last term, before the Bulldogs kicked the last goal of the game.

The Bulldogs had lost three of their last four games before and coach Rodney Eade said next week's Darwin match against Port Adelaide was another vital contest.

"We'd spoken about these two games, Richmond and Port Adelaide (as) really being our focus," Eade said.

"We've got to win (these) games if we're going to play in the finals."

Bulldogs defender Lindsay Gilbee continued his strong season, while Richmond defender Joel Bowden was outstanding with 34 possessions.

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