Inspired Richmond second-half surge shows Tigers’ classic gameplan still works, leaves questions for Western Bulldogs

If football in 2021 is to have a sliding-doors moment, it may have happened with seconds to go in the first half of Richmond’s game with the Western Bulldogs, when Marcus Bontempelli lined up to put his side four goals clear.

Shai Bolton had booted Richmond’s mere second goal of the game a short time before, but the Dogs had a great opportunity to slam the door shut again.

The Sons of the West were looking set to go 7-0 and the premiers, fresh from a damaging loss against Melbourne last week, were facing a 3-4 record and an even more difficult path to defending their flag.

But the skipper missed his shot, the lead was just 19 points at the half, and after the break, everything changed.

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Richmond used the premiership quarter to…