It was a tough day under the roof for Fremantle, going down to the Western Bulldogs by 47 points at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Freo struggled to match the run-with style on display by the Dogs, as they ran out with a 16.17 (113) to 9.12 (66) victory.
Andrew Brayshaw was the standout for Freo in an otherwise disappointing effort against the Dogs, with three goals, 26 possessions (12 contested) and 532 metres gained to finish the match.
Skipper Nat Fyfe topped Freo’s disposal count with 33 touches (15 contested), while winger Bradley Hill and defender Connor Blakely finished with 22 disposals each.
The Bulldogs’ win was soured by a potentially serious knee injury to Dale Morris, who was making his return from a partial ACL tear suffered in the pre-season.
Bailey Dale continued his recent hot streak with another four goals, while Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae dominated the midfield battle.
The win lifts the Dogs up to ninth place with just percentage separating them and the eighth-placed Crows.
Fremantle meanwhile drops to twelfth – a win and percentage behind the Crows.
MEDICAL ROOM
Western Bulldogs: Dale Morris had a dramatic start to his first game of the year, leaving the ground at the 20-minute mark of the opening quarter after reinjuring his left knee. He went straight to the rooms, reappeared on the boundary line for some run-throughs, then went back in again before returning to the field with heavy strapping. However, Morris hobbled from the ground for good early in the third term after trying to change direction.
Fremantle: Luke Ryan came from the field with a right hamstring issue in the third quarter, not long after Michael Walters went off after wearing a reckless Ed Richards strike to his throat.
NEXT UP
Only percentage is holding the Bulldogs out of the top eight, but they face a mighty challenge next Sunday against Brisbane at the Gabba. Fremantle probably can't afford to lose another match and hosts top side Geelong at Optus Stadium on Saturday.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 8.2 12.6 14.11 16.17
FREMANTLE 4.3 5.5 7.9 9.12
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dale 4, Lloyd 3, Smith 2, Bontempelli 2, Lipinski, Hunter, West, Naughton, Johannisen
Fremantle: Brayshaw 3, Tucker 2, Walters, Schultz, Conca, Lobb
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Bontempelli, Dale, Daniel, Hunter, Johannisen
Fremantle: Brayshaw, Fyfe, B. Hill, Mundy, Walters, Lobb
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Morris (knee)
Fremantle: Ryan (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, Meredith, Dore
Official crowd: 21,181 at Marvel Stadium
