The media spotlight was turned on Richmond on the morning following the Collingwood defeat. Frawley tried to drag a few positives out of what was a flogging. One of those was the form of our younger players Rodan amongst them. Our previously hapless opponents the Western Bulldogs recording their 2nd win of the season against Geelong on Sunday afternoon did not help things.

Things went from very bad to worse. Somehow the media got hold of a confidential interclub memo criticizing Danny Frawley. Oh joy! Then Greg Stafford pulled out with a hamstring injury, funny how things just keep getting worse isn't it? At least the Bulldogs are a short side so the loss of Stafford shouldn't hurt too much and it gave Jay Schulz a chance to play his 2nd game. The enforced withdrawal of Hilton and Stafford saw Schulz and maybe King come back into the side. Johnson and Cameron returned from injury. Rogers was dropped (at last!) and Martin McGrath was picked to make his debut (at last!).

Despite their dismal record of 2 wins and one draw the Bulldogs still went into this game as favourite. Ottens started in the ruck, Richo went onto the wing (?) and Holland was slotted into full forward. The Bulldogs started the game on top and made fewer errors than Richmond did in the first quarter, which is why they went into the break with a slight lead. The Tigers raised the tempo in the second stanza and Richo started to get his hands on the ball, Johnson came into the game, Coughlan shook his tag and 'Dutch' Holland asserted his not inconsiderable presence on the undersized Bulldog defence, he had 4 goals to halftime and Richmond had the lead. The third quarter was where it all clicked. Richo was everywhere and marked anything that looked like a football. Ottens got on top in the ruck, Johnson, Coughlan and Rodan went into overdrive in the middle and the small forward line of Krakouer, Rodan and McGrath ran amok. McGrath with 3 goals in the quarter was particularly effective. The Dogs were playing for pride only in the last quarter and after two months of losing Richmond weren't about to let them have even that. The last quarter was a bit of a goal fest. Johnson kicked two, so did Richo, Jay Schulz got his first league goal, Marty McGrath finished with 5 and was stiff to hit the post after the siren and Holland walked off the ground with half a dozen. In my opinion Johnson was best on ground, with apologies to Richardson. Rodan got a mention from Danny Frawley that he had played his best game for the club, he was great, but overshadowed a little by his two mates, Krakouer and McGrath. The commentators have taken to calling them the Three Musketeers because they're all small and friends, but I think a more fitting name would be the Three Musquiteers because they're little, quick and annoying.