The Western Bulldogs have demolished Fremantle by 67 factors in a Marcus Bontempelli masterclass.
Bontempelli racked up 30 disposals with three majors — together with a aim of the 12 months contender — and 15 rating involvements to play a number one position within the 23.11 (149) to 12.10 (82) win.
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With it, Luke Beveridge’s aspect climbed into the highest eight, additionally claiming the second-best share within the AFL (119.7) to now sit simply half a recreation behind the Dockers, with Bontempelli’s aim underscoring the thumping victory.
After competing with Fremantle key defender Alex Pearce for a contested mark within the Canine’ ahead line late within the second quarter, the Canine skipper outmuscled each Pearce and Luke Ryan to win his personal crumb. Then, in a single movement, he slapped the ball on his boot below strain with one hand whereas turning his physique goalward to separate the massive sticks with a sensational snap from 25m out.
It was the crowning jewel of the champion Bulldog’s efficiency and can in all probability guarantee one other three votes for him on Brownlow evening.
The Bulldogs fell 11 factors behind within the first quarter, after the Dockers kicked 4 objectives in a row, however the hosts hit again with full pressure to pile on 12 of the following 13 objectives to firmly shut the door on the Dockers.
Fremantle responded with six of the following seven objectives to use some beauty surgical procedure to the scoreboard, however they left it far too late to make any significant inroads into their huge deficit. The Canine kicked eight of the final 9 majors to revive their supremacy and run away with a complete victory.
The Bulldogs’ strain was completely ferocious for a lot of the recreation and so they loved a commanding lead of the deal with depend within the third quarter (46-31), in addition to tackles inside 50 (12-5), regardless of ending the match with way more disposals (376-302). It led to a bevy of Fremantle talent errors which the Bulldogs feasted on.
Regardless of the hosts lacking twin towers Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy from their ahead line, the Dockers’ vaunted backline struggled to deal with the Canine’ ahead entries, of which there have been loads to barter because the hosts had a large buffer in that stat (48-32) at three-quarter time.
The Canine produced 10 particular person goalkickers, together with Rhyle West, who bagged a career-high 4 majors, in addition to Cody Weightman, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Bontempelli and Rory Lobb who every kicked three.
Luke Beveridge’s crew registered their largest rating of the 12 months, whereas Fremantle conceded their worst complete of the season and suffered their heftiest lack of 2024 only one recreation after smashing Melbourne by 92 factors.
Tom Liberatore returned to kind in his second recreation again from concussion, ending with 28 disposals (15 contested), 9 clearances and 5 tackles, and restricted the affect of Freo star Caleb Serong when the match was up for grabs within the first half.
The Canine have been additionally nicely served in defence by Bailey Dale and Lachie Bramble who every collected 30 touches.
Exacerbating the end result for Fremantle was the lack of veteran Michael Walters to a hamstring damage within the second quarter.
Initially printed as Marcus Bontempelli all class as Western Bulldogs thrash Fremantle
