Essendon v Western Bulldogs 
Friday 25 July | 7:20pm AEST
Marvel Stadium
Broadcast: Channel 7, Kayo/Foxtel

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LAST MEETING

Round 10, 2025
Western Bulldogs 18.19 (127) def. Essendon 5.6 (36)

The Western Bulldogs delivered one of their most commanding performances of the season in Round 10, cruising to a 91-point win over Essendon at Marvel Stadium. The tone was set early, with the Bombers held goalless in the opening term, as the Bulldogs asserted authority across all four quarters in a clinical display of pressure. 

Rhylee West spearheaded the forward line with four goals from 19 disposals, while Ed Richards and Marcus Bontempelli were dynamic - each contributing two goals and 20+ disposals in a well-rounded showing. 

Tom Liberatore (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Matt Kennedy (31 disposals, four clearances) dominated inside the contest, while Bailey Dale marshalled the backline with a game-high 49 disposals and more than 1,000 metres gained. 

THE LINE-UP

WHO TO WATCH

Marcus Bontempelli enters Friday night’s clash with Essendon off the back of a milestone week – one that began with his elevation as the second-greatest Bulldog of all time at the centenary gala, and was followed by a fresh four-year contract extension, locking him in at the Kennel until at least 2029.

The captain is building a formidable 2025 campaign, averaging 25.2 disposals, 13.2 kicks, 12 handballs and 5.8 tackles - all while being the most successful VFL/AFL skipper in Club history. In the Bulldogs’ earlier clash with the Bombers, Bontempelli proved the difference, racking up 24 disposals and two goals in a performance he’ll be eager to replicate to cap off a landmark week in style.

No. 1 ruck Tim English will also have reason to celebrate, bringing up his 150^th career match in the red, white and blue. The Western Australian has delivered silver service to his midfielders this season, averaging 17.5 disposals, 30.7 hit-outs and 3.9 clearances.

 WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

• Martin Pegan, afl.com.au

Essendon (6-11) put on a brave face as it battled hard against Greater Western Sydney until gradually paying the price for a horror show in front of goal. The injury-ravaged Bombers had their chances early but went into the main break with 1.8 on the scoreboard and will need to be better in front of goal to stay in touch with a Bulldogs outfit that can put teams to the sword.

The Western Bulldogs (10-8) have fallen off the pace in the nine-team race for a finals place after back-to-back defeats to Adelaide and Brisbane. The Dogs can reignite their finals hopes by returning to the winners list and building on their supremacy over the Bombers, winning 10 of their past 12 clashes by an average 54 points. 

The Western Bulldogs have had a big Friday night out, belting Essendon by 93 points at Marvel Stadium.

The win puts the Bulldogs back in the top eight as they take another step forward in their race to make finals, winning 22.11 (143) to 7.8 (50) in front of a crowd of 29,367.

The Dogs were ruthless against the injury-ravaged Bombers, with captain Marcus Bontempelli leading the way, finishing the night with 35 disposals and two goals.

Bontempelli's performance topped off a big week for the Dogs skipper, who signed a new four-year contract and was named the second greatest Bulldog of all time in the club's centenary celebrations.

Normally the Bulldogs' opponents can quell the influence of one of their key forwards, but they both got off the chain with Aaron Naughton kicking a career-high seven goals, while Sam Darcy booted six of his own.

The Bulldogs started strongly, kicking five unanswered goals, with Naughton kicking two within the first three minutes. Naughton was joined by big dogs Bontempelli, Darcy and Ed Richards who all added to their side's tally.

Essendon's defence improved in the second term, limiting the Dogs to just four goals, but while it slowed the Dogs' scoring, it couldn't apply any scoreboard pressure of its own, and the Dogs went into the main break with an eight-goal lead.

There were concerns in the third quarter when Tom Liberatore went down into the rooms with a foot injury, but the gun midfielder returned later in the quarter to the relief of Bulldogs fans. It seemed that Liberatore's foot had been stood on in a contest and the vice-captain was subbed out tactically later in the game.

Rhylee West started to have an influence on the game, kicking two goals in the third quarter, whilst Darcy and Naughton continued to add to their tallies.

After leading by 79 points at the three-quarter time break, the Bulldogs kept their foot on the pedal, adding a further five goals and extending their lead to more than 15 goals at the final siren.

Big Dogs deliver

The Dogs' two tall targets were unstoppable, with Naughton snagging seven and Darcy six. It was their accuracy in front of goal that made their efforts even more exceptional. Naughton kicked 7.1, while Darcy slotted 6.2. The Bombers didn’t have answers for the pair who also took 14 marks, seven of which were contested. 

ESSENDON                           2.2      2.5       4.6        7.8 (50)  
WESTERN BULLDOGS          6.5     10.5     17.7     22.11 (143)  

GOALS
Essendon: Wright 2, McMahon 2, Perkins, Kako, Caddy
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 7, Darcy 6, West 3, Richards 2, Bontempelli 2, Sanders, Poulter

BEST
Essendon: Merrett, Durham, Shiel, Redman, Roberts
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Naughton, Darcy, Liberatore, Williams

INJURIES
Essendon: Ridley (hamstring tightness)
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Essendon: Oskar Smartt (replaced Jordan Ridley in the second quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Laitham Vandermeer (replaced Tom Liberatore in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 29,367 at Marvel Stadium