A potentially serious knee injury to star onballer Tom Liberatore has soured a 22-point NAB Challenge win by the Western Bulldogs over Richmond.

Bulldogs supporters turned out in force to welcome back AFL football to Whitten Oval on Saturday, but looked on aghast as Liberatore limped from the field after his left leg buckled under the weight of a Tyrone Vickery tackle in the first quarter.

Trainers immediately iced the 22-year-old’s knee and he didn’t take any further part in the match the Dogs won 0.12.17 (89) to 1.9.4 (67).

Damien Hardwick won’t be too disappointed, however, because he fielded a team missing almost a dozen first-choice players, while Stewart Crameri was arguably the only notable absentee from the Bulldogs’ best 22.

Kicking with the aid of the wind in the first term, the Tigers edged to a nine-point lead at quarter-time only to see the Dogs kick five goals to one in the second to go 18 points up at the main break.

Sam Lloyd kicked the only super goal of the day with the wind at his back in the third term to help Richmond to a two-point lead at three-quarter time.

In a scrappy final quarter, Richmond kicked two goals into the wind before Marcus Bontempelli gave his side the lead for good following on from a great goal by Jake Stringer from the boundary line.

In a day of firsts for the Dogs, new coach Luke Beveridge oversaw his first win and heralded recruit Tom Boyd kicked his maiden goal for the club that lured him from the GWS Giants with a lucrative seven-year deal.

Windy and warm conditions made life tough for the forwards, but Boyd kicked one goal and worked hard in support of his teammates further down the field and during occasional stints in the ruck.

Anthony Miles was important for Richmond with 23 possessions, and Geelong discard Taylor Hunt impressed in his first game for his new club, while Chris Knights kicked two goals as he looks to put a wretched run of luck with injuries behind him.

Steve Morris captained the Tigers in the absence of Trent Cotchin and played mostly across half-forward.

New Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy played well for three quarters before he was rested, with Jack Macrae and Matthew Boyd influential on the ball for the Dogs.