How high the bar has been set for the Western Bulldogs became clear after their comprehensive 72-point AFL belting of Richmond on Sunday with coach Rodney Eade urging improvement in all areas for his premiership hopefuls.

The Bulldogs overcame a stuttering start and a wayward final quarter in front of goal to crush the outclassed Tigers 17.18 (120) to 7.6 (48) at the MCG.

A win was never in doubt.

The margin never dropped below three goals from late in the first quarter, and the Bulldogs had the four premiership points in their pocket before half-time despite not clicking into gear until early in the third term.

But the club's 2010 expectations are such that a first half laden with uncharacteristic turnovers and a final quarter in which they sprayed 3.7 from 10 scoring shots had Eade demanding more from his players.

"I was disappointed with our use of the ball, I was disappointed with our decision-making, and our goalkicking," Eade said.

"The first half our decision-making was poor going inside 50 and we started to get that right in the second half.

"It (the goalkicking) is not acceptable. The set shots, we shouldn't miss those and we've got to kick those.

"What did we kick? 17.18. It should be a minimum 22.13."

Forward Josh Hill, a late replacement for skipper Brad Johnson who withdrew pre-match with a virus and achilles tendon soreness, and Mitch Hahn booted three goals each for the Dogs.

Midfielders Daniel Cross, Adam Cooney and rebounding defender Lindsay Gilbee were the stars, having days out against a young Tigers side which tried to the best of its limited ability.

Cross mixed courage with a massive appetite for work in the midfield as he racked up 28 touches, while Brownlow Medallist Cooney booted two goals and gathered 26 possessions.

As the Tigers struggled to hit targets by foot throughout, Gilbee put on a clinic in that department in the second half as they built upon a 31-point halftime lead.

They led by 53 points by three-quarter time before dominating the final term, though their waywardness in front of goal cost them an even more healthy percentage boost.

Forward Mitch Morton booted three goals for the Tigers, while Richmond fullback Will Thursfield blanketed Bulldogs star forward Barry Hall and kept him to just one goal.

Tigers coach Damien Hardwick, who spent the match coaching from the sideline rather than the customary coaches' box, was pleased with his side's endeavour coming off the previous week's hammering by Carlton.

But Hardwick lamented the Tigers' pedestrian final term, in which they only troubled the scorers in the final seconds as Morton booted his third on the siren.

"Our intensity and competitiveness was pretty good for two-and-a-half quarters, but then young legs fell away and they just ran over the top of us," Hardwick said.

"We've just got to get experience, we've got to get better. It was a really disappointing finish for us."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP