MATCH INFO

Round 6 v Fremantle

Friday 21 April

Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST (8.10pm AEST)

Broadcast: Channel 7, Fox Footy, Kayo Sports

Admission: Tickets on sale here.

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2022 SUMMARY

Western Bulldogs 8th 12-10 108.9%

Fremantle 5^th 15-6-1 117%

FUN FACTS

• The Bulldogs have two ex-Dockers on their playing list (Hayden Crozier and Rory Lobb)
• Of the 36 times these sides have met, it is all fair and square at 18 wins each
• The Dogs have beaten the Dockers in three of their past five meetings, by an average winning margin of 35 points
• Across his career, Caleb Daniel has registered the most tackles (38) and second-most rebound 50s (37) against Fremantle
• A number of current Bulldogs were drafted from WA, including Tim English (Brookton-Pingelly/South Fremantle), Aaron Naughton (Rockingham/Peel Thunder) and Jason Johannisen (Willetton/East Fremantle)

LAST TIME THEY MET

Fremantle 11.7 (73) def. Western Bulldogs 8.12 (60)

The Bulldogs gave up a 41-point lead in last year’s Elimination Final at Optus Stadium, so will be keen to make amends when they meet Fremantle again. The Dogs were hot out of the blocks, slotting the first six goals of the match before the hosts slowly pegged back the deficit, eventually overrunning the Bulldogs by 13 points. Skipper Marcus Bontempelli was prolific in the defeat, slotting two majors from 30 disposals and nine marks, while Jack Macrae notched up 34 touches and five clearances. Rory Lobb bagged two goals from 11 possessions for the opposition.

TALKING POINTS

1. Battle of the big guys

Two of the league’s leading rucks in Tim English and Sean Darcy will do battle on Friday night, and what a spectacle that will be.

English is enjoying a career-best start to season 2023, ranked first across the competition for most disposals by a ruck (104), most marks by a ruck (34) and most intercepts by a ruck (31).

Darcy on the other hand has won the most hit-outs (204), and ranks third for total clearances by a ruck (25).

First-year Docker Luke Jackson is also expected to alternate ruck duties with Darcy, while ex-Docker Rory Lobb will most likely do the same with English. 

50K AND COUNTING >> BULLDOGS REACH MEMBERSHIP MILESTONE

2. Toby to notch up a century

Fresh off celebrating favourite father-son Tom Liberatore’s 200^th match, the Bulldogs could welcome another member to the milestone club this Friday night.

Premiership Bulldog Toby McLean is on track to recording his 100^th career match, after being named the tactical substitute against Port Adelaide to bring up game number 99.

It has been a patient road to 100 matches for McLean, who has been unlucky with injuries in recent years.

So if he’s a chance to raise the bat on Friday night – it will be deservingly so.

3. Len Hall Tribute game

The Bulldogs will have the honour of launching the ANZAC Appeal Round in Fremantle’s annual Len Hall tribute match on Friday night.

A special fixture on the hosts’ calendar, this year’s Len Hall Tribute match will coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

Approximately 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War, more than 3,000 were wounded and 523 tragically lost their lives.

To support the 2023 ANZAC Appeal or learn more, click here.

The Western Bulldogs have squared the ledger with a commanding 49-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Friday night.

Launching the ANZAC Appeal Round in front of a record crowd, only accuracy in front of goal prevented the Dogs from recording a much greater advantage in the 10.9 (69) to 17.16 (118) affair.

Following six behinds in the opening quarter, the Bulldogs didn’t get their first major on the board until 19 minutes into the game - with none other than skipper Marcus Bontempelli plucking it out of the pack and converting.

Anthony Scott set the tone early with his chase-down tackle on Alex Pearce in the goal-square, resulting in a free kick and goal, before West Aussie Aaron Naughton got involved too.

Fremantle pressed in the second term as momentum shifted in the hosts’ favour, but the Dogs steadied both around the contest and on the scoreboard.

Taking a 19-point buffer into the main break, the Bulldogs continued to control the third before storming home five goals to one in the last to seal the victory.

In what was otherwise a well-rounded team performance, Bontempelli was prolific – collecting 31 touches, 10 tackles, six marks, eight clearances and two goals to go with 528 metres gained.

Naughton finished with three goals from four marks, while Rory Lobb silenced his former fan-base with one goal, 12 disposals and six marks.

Bailey Williams enjoyed a career-best three goals, with Adam Treloar (35 possessions, four clearances, two goals) also impacting inside 50.

Tim English was strong in the ruck, recording 34 hit-outs and 20 touches, while Caleb Daniel (22 disposals, four tackles, one goal), Liam Jones (16 disposals, seven marks), Jason Johannisen and Oskar Baker were important.

Toby McLean celebrated game 100, before being subbed off for Lachie McNeil midway through the fourth.

The Bulldogs will next meet Hawthorn in a home match at Marvel Stadium on Saturday April 22.

FREMANTLE                                3.1    6.2    9.6      10.9 (69)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                 3.7    8.9    12.11   17.16 (118)

GOALS
Fremantle: Sturt 2, Frederick 2, Amiss, Darcy, Jackson, O'Meara, Schultz, Walters  
Western Bulldogs: Williams 3, Naughton 3, Treloar 2, Bontempelli 2, Daniel, English, Liberatore, Lobb, McNeil, Scott, Weightman

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Darcy, Frederick, Brodie, Clark  
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Williams, English, Macrae, Ugle-Hagan, Liberatore

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Josh Corbett (replaced Jye Amiss in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachlan McNeil (replaced Toby McLean in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 47,503 at Optus Stadium