Paul Gough at Telstra Dome
The Western Bulldogs have maintained their unbeaten start to the 2008 season but only just, after coming from behind to snatch a thrilling draw against a desperately unlucky Richmond at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
In an old-fashioned shoot-out, the Bulldogs somehow managed to kick three goals in the last three minutes as the game ended with the Dogs on 19.16 (130) to Richmond 20.10 (130).
The Dogs were aiming to win their first five games in a season for the first time since 1946 but did their best to lose the game on a day when spearhead Scott Welsh kicked five behinds without kicking a goal as the Bulldogs wasted chance after chance to bury the Tigers in the first half.
At half-time the Dogs had enjoyed nine more forward entries than Richmond and eight more scoring shots yet led by just eight points at half-time.
But despite their early dominance, in the end it was the Bulldogs that would be the happier team with the draw.
Richmond was aiming for successive wins for the first time since 2006 and looked home when they led by 19 points with just over three minutes remaining.
But then defender Jake King, who had been one of the Tigers' best players all day, needlessly conceded a rushed behind to cut the margin to 18 points and from the resultant kick-out - Richmond just could not clear the ball out of defence.
That led to Nathan Foley being caught in possession and from the resultant free-kick, Daniel Cross goaled from a tight angle to cut the margin to 12 points with just over two minutes left.
Then Robert Murphy kicked a magnificent banana goal on the run to cut the margin to six points before full-back Brian Lake took a superb pack mark with just over 30 seconds remaining.
Lake was only down in attack following his opponent Matthew Richardson who again played on the wing and spent time both in defence and attack, but after his spectacular grab he went down injured and did not take his kick.
A cynic would say the fact that Harris is one of the least reliable kicks for goal in the Dogs' side may have had something to do with his sudden injury after he appeared fine as he completed the mark.
The Bulldogs' attempted to have their best kick in the side - Lindsay Gilbee - take the shot at goal but he was waved away by the umpires with ruckman Will Minson stepping up to coolly convert from 35 metres with just 14 seconds left leaving no time for either side to force the winning behind.
The result means the Bulldogs are still unbeaten but are now half a game behind Geelong and Hawthorn while the draw puts the Tigers, last year's wooden spooners, in the eight after five rounds but with Hawthorn, St Kilda and Geelong to come in the next three weeks - this was definitely two points thrown away by the Tigers.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 4.10, 9.11, 12.14, 19.16 (130)
RICHMOND: 4.2, 9.3, 15.8, 20.10 (130)
GOALS: Bulldogs: Gilbee 3, Minson 3, Johnson 2, Akermanis, Hahn, Hudson, Cooney, Hill, Hargrave, Lake, Giansiracusa, Griffen, Cross, Murphy
Richmond: Richardson 3, Brown 3, Riewoldt 3, Deledio 2, Edwards 2, Morton 2, Polak, Schulz, Hyde, White, Simmonds
BEST: Bulldogs: Akermanis, Boyd, Giansiracusa, Cooney, Gilbee, Minson
Richmond: Johnson, Deledio, Richardson, Schulz, King, Thursfield, White
INJURIES: Bulldogs: Johnson (corked calf), Lake (back)
Richmond: Nil
UMPIRES: Meredith, Ryan, Armstrong
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
CROWD: 37,767 at Telstra Dome
Sportal AFL Player of the Year
3. Matthew Boyd
2. Kane Johnson
1. Brett Deledio