Round 23

Western Bulldogs v Carlton
Sunday 16 August | 3:15pm AEST
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri
Broadcast: 7AFL/7Plus, Kayo/Fox Footy (check your local broadcast guide)

LAST TIME WE MET

Round 10, 2026
Carlton 10.14 (74) def. Western Bulldogs 9.8 (62)

A fourth-quarter blitz from Carlton paved the way to an 12-point win over the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.

The game opened with a showing of defensive grit from both sides. Forward entries weren't necessarily ineffective as a result of poor choices going inside, rather both backlines worked exceptionally well to repel attacks.

The Dogs were the first to break the slow style of play, starting to put speed on the ball following the main break. In doing so, opportunities for their sole tall forward, Aaron Naughton (12 disposals, three goals), grew.

Through the middle, the usual suspects for the Bulldogs – Ed Richards, Marcus Bontempelli – had quieter days by their lofty standards, but it created an opportunity for younger duo Joel Freijah and Ryley Sanders to show their wares.

THE LINE-UP

Check back on Thursday at 6:20pm for the Squad announcement, and Friday at 5pm for the final team

WHAT IT MEANS

by Martin Pagan/AFL.com.au 

Western Bulldogs (12-9) locked in a wildcard spot even as it suffered a defeat to North Melbourne before other results fell its way. The Dogs dropped to ninth spot with back-to-back losses to the Roos and Dockers but will be eager to avoid sliding further and below the red-hot Blues in a matchup that could shape the finals.

GAME SHAPER

Marcus Bontempelli has had another outstanding season to lead the Bulldogs back into finals but has failed to have his usual impact in recent weeks. The Dogs skipper has had only four clearances in his side’s pair of defeats to the Roos and Dockers, but can expect to spend more time back in the engine room against the Blues as the two teams jostle for a more appealing wildcard round matchup.

A DOMINANT first quarter set North Melbourne up for an upset win over the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.

The Roos ran out 15.10 (100) to 11.11 (77) winners after a see-sawing contest, beating the Dogs for the first time since 2019 and denying them the opportunity to lock in a finals spot with two rounds remaining.

Unlike previous winnable games when they crumbled late, the Kangaroos fended off the desperate Bulldogs, led by captain Marcus Bontempelli and fellow star Ed Richards.

A win against North would have guaranteed the Dogs a wildcard spot at least, but they will now need to beat Carlton or Melbourne to be assured of playing finals.

In a further concern for the Bulldogs, ruckman Tim English was in discomfort with his knee late in the final quarter and was assessed in the rooms.

WESTERN BULLDOGS        2.3    5.6    10.9    11.11 (77)
NORTH MELBOURNE    6.0    10.2    12.7    15.10 (100)
 
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naughton 2, Kennedy 2, Hynes, Bontempelli, Freijah, Khamis, Richards, Liberatore, Davidson
North Melbourne: Curtis 4, Darling 2, Davies-Uniacke 2, Banch 2, Simpkin, Wardlaw, Spargo, Xerri, Parker

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Richards, Bontempelli, West, Freijah, Bramble
North Melbourne: Davies-Uniacke, Curtis, Sheezel, Parker, Daniel, Zurhaar, Wardlaw
 
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: English (knee)
North Melbourne: Corr (back)
 
Crowd: 25,052 at Marvel Stadium