Herald Sun/Perth Now
It took an extraordinary solo effort from Lachie Hunter to keep the Bulldogs in it. With Marcus Bontempelli restricted to eight first-half touches by tagger Connor Blakely, Hunter had racked up 16 touches and three goals by half-time to lead the way.
The start of the third quarter should have proved critical and it was then the cream appeared to rise to the top.Bontempelli pulled the strings as first Jake Stringer and then Jason Johannisen goaled as the Bulldogs grabbed the lead for the first time.
The Dockers came again, with an unselfish Fyfe giving a goal to Shane Kersten before Walters pounced on an error from Marcus Adams.
Yet the Dogs added five goals to two for the term to grab the ascendancy.
They didn’t know what was to come and it’s a fair bet even the most optimistic of Fremantle fans didn’t know either.
Best: L Hunter, L Dahlhaus, T Liberatore, J Macrae, M Bontempelli, J Johannisen.
- Braden Quatermain
The Age
In the third term, once Marcus Bontempelli started to shake his Connor Blakely tag, the Dogs started to get more chances but they just couldn't make the most of it.
In that third term they had 16 inside 50 entries but could kick only 5.6. They had turned a seven point half-time deficit to 14-point lead at the last break, but it could have been much more.
Fremantle's manic pressure and run in the final quarter blew the Bulldogs off the park, with Fyfe tallying 12 disposals for the term.
Best: L Hunter, L Dalhaus, J Macrae, M Suckling, T Liberatore, M Bontempelli
- Brad Elborough
AFL Media
The Dogs were well-served by Luke Dahlhaus (31 disposals) and superboot Matt Suckling (30), while Jason Johannisen's (29, one goal) run worried Freo and Hunter (26) was a shining light all match.
But ultimately the Dockers had the answers and, after being the last team to defeat the Dogs in Matthew Pavlich's farewell game last year, they snapped the Bulldogs' winning streak at six games.
"I thought Fremantle's performance was quite outstanding," Beveridge said.
"They jumped us obviously, clear as day. We weren't prepared for that unfortunately and it felt like we were before the game.
Best: Liberatore, Hunter, Dahlhaus, Macrae, Jong, Suckling
- Travis King
