Round 8

Western Bulldogs v Fremantle
Friday 1 May | 7:30pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: Channel 7/7Plus, Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

LAST MEETING

Round 24, 2025
Western Bulldogs 14.13 (97) def. by Fremantle 17.10 (112)

The Western Bulldogs hopes of playing finals were dashed after going down by 15 points to Fremantle at Marvel Stadium.

Seven second-quarter goals to none proved to be the difference in the game, amid a stretch where Fremantle kicked eight consecutive majors either side of half time.

The Bulldogs started strongly, registering the first six inside 50s and had the first three shots on goal, but couldn't make the fast start county on the scoreboard. 

THE LINE-UP

WHAT IT MEANS

Western Bulldogs (4-3) concerns went from bad to worse as it was kept at arm's length by Sydney before the ladder leaders pulled away in the second half. The Bulldogs have now lost their past three by an average 60 points at the same time as their injury toll continues to mount. The Dogs will need no reminder of their costly loss to the Dockers last year as they look to turn their form around.

GAME SHAPER

Marcus Bontempelli could hardly have done much more to drag the Bulldogs back into the contest against the Swans as he spent time bolstering the defence and in his more familiar midfield role. The Dogs captain gathered 29 disposals and booted two goals even while carrying a knee concern against the Swans, but will need to be fit and firing against the Dockers' deep-running onball brigade.

The Western Bulldogs have fallen 12 points short to Fremantle at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

The Dogs did all they could in the early stages of the game and looked like pulling off a win with a number of star players sitting in the stands, but it was the Dockers' determination that left its stamp on the contest as they lay their flag credentials out for all to see in the 17.12 (114) to 15.12 (102) result.

The first quarter belonged to the Bulldogs as they opened a sizeable gap made all the more inspirational by a pair of goals from contested marks by Aaron Naughton, something that looked unlikely when the key forward landed awkwardly on his head last week.

A stirring quarter-time address from Justin Longmuir saw Freo lift a level in the second, but it was still a 19-point difference at half-time.

However, it was late in the third term that the Dockers truly clicked, kicking seven unanswered goals either side of three-quarter time to take the lead and open up a 28-point break of their own.

An inspirational performance from Marcus Bontempelli (33 disposals, two goals) threatened to drag the Dogs back over the line, despite being clearly hampered, but the Dockers stood strong.

Despite carrying a heavily strapped right knee and spending five minutes having that taping re-done in the first quarter, Bontempelli already had 15 disposals and 297 metres gained to the first break. His capacity to spread away from the contest unmarked was a must-fix for Fremantle, but he still spent much of the game allowed to do as he pleased.

Another who entered the game under an injury cloud, Aaron Naughton (two goals, four marks) flew for the footy as if he didn’t hush the stadium last week with an ugly fall.

Rhylee West, Will Lewis and Lachie McNeil all finished with two goals apiece.

The Bulldogs will look to bounce back against Port Adelaide next Friday night at Adelaide Oval.

WESTERN BULLDOGS  6.3   9.6   11.9   15.12 (102)
FREMANTLE                 2.1   7.4   12.7   17.11 (113)

GOALS   
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, West 2, Lewis 2, Bontempelli 2, McNeil 2, Richards, Vandermeer, Sanders, Jones, Bramble,  
Fremantle: Switkowski 3, Young 3, Treacy 3, Jackson, Dudley, Frederick, Erasmus, Reid, Chapman, Brayshaw, Bolton 

BEST   
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Richards, Naughton, West, Dale 
Fremantle: Young, Jackson, Switkowski, Reid, Clark, Bolton 

INJURIES   
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (right hamstring),  
Fremantle: Nil 

Crowd: 23,071 at Marvel Stadium