Superstar goes OFF, red-hot Dogs demolish Dockers as gun ...

The Western Bulldogs have demolished Fremantle by 67 points in a Marcus Bontempelli masterclass.

Bontempelli racked up 30 disposals with three majors — including a Goal of the Year c0ntender — and 15 score involvements to play a leading role in the 23.11 (149) to 12.10 (82) win.

With it, Luke Beveridge’s side climbed into the top eight, also claiming the second-best percentage in the AFL (119.7) to now sit just half a game behind the Dockers.

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Bontempelli’s goal-of-the-year contender very much highlighted the thumping victory.

After competing with Fremantle key defender Alex Pearce for a contested mark in the Dogs’ forward line late in the second quarter, the Dogs skipper outmuscled both Pearce and Luke Ryan to win his own crumbs. Then, in one motion, he slapped the ball on his boot under pressure with one hand while turning his body goalward to split the big sticks with a sensational snap from 25m out.

It was the crowning jewel of the champion Bulldog’s performance and will probably ensure another three votes for him on Brownlow night.

The Bulldogs fell 11 points behind in the first quarter, after the Dockers kicked four goals in a row, but the hosts hit back with full force to pile on 12 of the next 13 goals to firmly shut the door on the Dockers.

Fremantle responded with six of the next seven goals to apply some cosmetic surgery to the scoreboard, but they left it far too late to make any meaningful inroads into their massive deficit, and the Dogs kicked eight of the last nine majors to restore their supremacy and run away with a comprehensive victory.

The Bulldogs’ pressure was absolutely ferocious for most of the game, and they enjoyed a commanding lead of the tackle count in the third quarter (46-31), as well as tackles inside 50 (12-5), despite finishing the match with far more disposals (376-302). It lead to a bevy of Fremantle skill errors which the Bulldogs feasted on.

Despite the hosts missing twin towers Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy from their forward line, the Dockers’ vaunted backline struggled to cope with the Dogs’ forward entries, of which there were plenty to negotiate as the hosts had a massive buffer in that stat (48-32) at three-quarter time.

The Dogs produced 10 individual goalkickers, including Rhyle West, who bagged a career-high four majors, as well as Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Bontempelli and Rory Lobb who each kicked three.

Luke Beveridge’s team registered their biggest score of the year, while Fremantle conceded their worst total of the season and suffered their heftiest loss of 2024 just one game after smashing Melbourne by 92 points.

Tom Liberatore returned to form in his second game back from concussion, finishing with 28 disposals (15 contested), nine clearances

and five tackles, and limited the influence of Freo star Caleb Serong when the match was up for grabs in the first half.

The Dogs were also well served in defence by Bailey Dale and Lachie Bramble who each collected 30 touches.

Exacerbating the result for Fremantle was the loss of veteran Michael Walters to a hamstring injury in the second quarter.

The 3-2-1 (what we learned) ...

3. THE MARCUS BONTEMPELLI SHOW AT MARVEL

Marcus Bontempelli is an absolute star of the competition and it’s a travesty he hasn’t won a Brownlow yet.

“Marcus Bontempelli has put his stamp on the game in the most emphatic fashion,” Fox Footy commentator Garry Lyon said.

The Bont was absolutely immense against the Dockers, booting 3.2 from 30 disposals.

His dominance to impact the game both through the midfield and in the forward half make him a near impossible matchup for opposition coaches.

Bontempelli also had 15 score involvements and eight marks, everything he touched turned to gold.

During the second term, Bontempelli halved an aerial contest with Fremantle captain Alex Pearce before taking on three defenders at ground level to snap a goal of the year contender.

“Surely not! The best of the best!” Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell said on commentary.

“It has to be in contention (for goal of the year) … he refused to concede,” Lyon said.

Labelled a “freak” by Lyon, Bontempelli hardly trained during the week as he dealt with a virus but reaffirmed his status as one of the game’s greatest talents with a best-on-ground display.

His continuous ability to inspire and lift his side will be integral in the Bulldogs’ push towards another finals campaign under Luke Beveridge.

So much has been made of the likes of Nick Daicos and Chad Warner in 2024, but we can’t forget about the King of Whitten Oval.

Is he the greatest to ever pull on the red, white and blue?

2. ARE FINALS BACK ON THE CARDS FOR THE DOGS?

The blowtorch was well and truly on Luke Beveridge earlier in the season, but the Dogs have shown tremendous fight and spirit since to put themselves back in the finals conversation.

Luke Beveridge’s troops did the damage in the second term, booting five goals to one to open up a 28-point lead at the main change.

“The whole complexity of the game changed in that second quarter,” Lyon said.

“They established territory from that contest situation, it really dried up for Fremantle, their ability to move the ball.”

The Bulldogs booted 13 goals in the second half to record a thumping 67-point win.

Coming into the round, the Dockers were ranked the best defensive side in the competition, but Beveridge’s Bulldogs found a way to unlock them.

Dogs father-son small forward Rhylee West, who paid close attention to Luke Ryan throughout the day, booted four goals in his 50th AFL match.

Tom Liberatore amassed 28 touches in a typically bullish display, while Ed Richards continued his growth as a player racking up 21 touches and a goal.

Maligned talls Rory Lobb and Tim English did a tremendous job against star Dockers ruck duo Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson.

Lobb, often a whipping boy amongst the Bulldogs faithful,

“He looked like a million-dollar player, in that quarter, which is saying something, because he hasn’t been viewed in that light for a while,” Melbourne champion Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy.

“He looked like a centre half forward who played with presence that could go into the ruck, get clearances and kick goals. How valuable are they? We just haven’t seen enough of it, I thought he was absolutely outstanding, he and Tim English, two maligned men for the Bulldogs set the scene.”

Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell agreed: “He’s looked like a square peg in a round hole on occasion at his previous clubs, but he’s made the Sherrin his own today, he’s been brilliant.”

The Dogs haven’t been in the top eight since round six, but now are looming as a massive finals wildcard.

1. STAR DOCKER CLAMPED

Luke Ryan has done as he has pleased in 2024 so far, but not against the Western Bulldogs.

After dominating against Melbourne in Alice Springs before the bye, the Western Bulldogs were sure to make sure that Ryan didn’t get off the leash.

Fox Footy experts Brad Johnson and Garry Lyon discussed the importance of Ryan to Fremantle’s ball movement.

“He plays such an effective game for Fremantle… he sets them up so well from the back half,” Johnson said.

“He starts things for them.”

Melbourne champion Garry Lyon was adamant that “someone has to take responsibility” for Ryan and threw up the attention that Tom Stewart has received in recent weeks as a blueprint for success.

“I’ve been a really interested observer in the way clubs have gone after Tom Stewart in recent weeks, the role they have played on him has impacted on him and its’ impact on the team as a whole,” he said.

Half-backs Jordan Clark and James Aish were well curtailed as well, further denting the Dockers’ ability to transition the ball from defence to attack.

“The last thing you want is Ryan marking uncontested and then Clark or Aish getting overlap,” Lyon said.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge told Fox Footy pre-game that they would put time into limiting Ryan’s influence.

“If we kick into their safety net that will fuel Luke Ryan’s game,” he said.

“He’s had the most marks in the comp and it’s no coincidence, they look for him.”

Ryan finished the day with 15 touches and six marks while Clark and Aish combined for just 34 disposals.

Will more teams put the clamps on Ryan in the coming weeks given the Bulldogs’ success?

It was certainly a factor in the Dogs’ comprehensive victory on Saturday.

As it happened ...

The Dockers swung a late change, with Heath Chapman (hamstring awareness) replaced by Karl Worner.

The subs for today’s clash are Caleb Daniel (Bulldogs) and Matthew Johnson (Dockers).

The Bulldogs drew first blood through Cody Weightman, who was straight in on the action upon his return from an arm injury.

Weightman snapped truly from deep inside the forward pocket for the first of the day.

Ed Richards, also on return from concussion, then roved beautifully inside 50 to make it two in a row for the Doggies.

Fremantle sharpshooter Sam Sturt bobbed up for Fremantle’s first major with a set shot conversion.

Dockers defender Brandon Walker blazed away in the centre of the ground, finding spearhead Josh Treacy just 15 metres out from goal.

“That’s a weapon,” Fox Footy commentator Garry Lyon said of Walker’s blistering pace.

Their transition play was on show yet again, resulting in Sturt’s second major as he scooted out the back to put the Dockers in front.

“Now we’re seeing the best version of them,” Lyon said.

Luke Jackson made it four in a row as he converted his set shot from 40 metres out.

“Alarm bells going off in the Bulldog camp,” said Fox Footy commentator Dwayne Russell.

But the Dogs responded through Rhylee West in game 50, as the small forward bobbed up with two majors to finish the first term.

The Dogs led 4.5 (29) to 4.1 (25) at the first break.

Weightman booted the first of the second term to give the Dogs some breathing room, opening up a nine point lead, before the Bulldogs captain, Marcus Bontempelli, made the Dockes pay after a turnover in the middle of the ground.

“They’re all over them... the look of the game has changed completely,” Lyon said.

The Dockers were forced to sub out star forward Michael Walters with a hamstring concern, introducing midfielder Matthew Johnson into the game.

Harvey Gallagher, fresh off signing a new two-year deal during the week, extended the Bulldogs’ lead to 22 points.

Michael Fredrick executed a nice check side but it was the Bontempelli show at Marvel Stadium, as he booted a tremendous solo goal.

Adam Treloar added another major just before half time, to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 28 points.

The Dogs really blew the game open in the third term, kicking five-straight goals straight to open the period including two to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to lead by as much as 58 points.

Freo wrestled back momentum though with three-straight goals to put some pressure back on the home side.

Just when it seemed Justin Longmuir’s side was back in the game, Rory Lobb kicked his second goal of the term to push the Dogs’ lead back out to 42 points, 15.11 (101) to 9.5 (59).

Luke Jackson kicked the opening goal of the fourth quarter to get the Dockers within 29 points.

But the Dogs responded with the next two — including Weightman’s third of the day — before Harvey Gallagher kicked a ripper out of mid air.

Luke Beverdige’s side kicked away late for its biggest score of the season including Bontempelli adding a third goal to his tally to cap off some sort of performance.

Re-live Western Bulldogs v Fremantle live below!