A promising start made way for tough night out in Perth after the home side ran out 54-point winners on the back of a dominant display after quarter time
Patrick Lipinski’s first goal in AFL football had the Dogs within five points mid way through the second quarter before Fremantle slammed on the next eight goals unanswered to put the game out of reach.
There were echoes of Round 4 against the Swans where six straight Sydney goals put the Dogs on the back foot, but instead of a fight back, the Dockers overran the visitors behind 43-possessions from Nat Fyfe and five goals from live wire small forward Michael Walters.
Toby McLean (25 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and a goal), who is quickly becoming one of the Bulldogs most important players, was again among the Dogs’ best, while Mitch Honeychurch (20 disposals, nine marks and seven tackles) found plenty of the football and fought hard all night.
Early on the contest was evenly poised before poor ball use and an ascendant Docker midfield allowed the home side to get on top, and once inside the arc, they usually made it count.
Tom Boyd made a welcome return to the football, kicking the Dogs’ first for the match and in a highlight of the night was mobbed by all seventeen of his teammates.
The big forward provided a genuine target all night and attacked the game with confidence, finishing with two goals while first year ruckman Tim English more than held his own against Docker big man Aaron Sandilands.
The return to Etihad Stadium to face Carlton next Friday night.
Western Bulldogs 1.2 3.3 4.4 (54)
Fremantle 4.2. 6.3 12.6 (108)
Best: McLean, Honeychurch, English, Suckling, Jong, Daniel
Goals: Boyd, Gowers 2, Wallis, Jong, Lipinski, Wallis, McLean
Disposals: Suckling 27, Macrae 26, Johannisen, McLean 25, Jong 23
