AFL Game Day Round 5, 2018 - Fremantle V Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium

[Eastdog]

Big game Saturday night!

Get your predictions in for margin, our first goal kicker and our best on ground.

Margin: Dogs by 16 points

First Goal: Dickson to get our first

Best On Ground: Bont to have a great one

Go Bulldogs!!

[Eastdog]

http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2018/5/fre-v-wb

Match preview: Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
April 16, 2018 1:54 PM

SUMMARY
The Dockers made Greater Western Sydney earn a 31-point win in blustery conditions at Canberra last Saturday and return to Perth aiming to extend their unbeaten run at Optus Stadium to three games against an improving Western Bulldogs line-up. Fremantle has looked a much more potent team at its new home compared to on the road, averaging 101 points in Perth and only 55.5 in two away losses. There is a watch on Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands after the club wanted to rest him against the Giants, and Lloyd Meek or Scott Jones might come into the mix for a debut against beanpole Tim English. The Dogs were rudderless in the opening two rounds but have rediscovered some intensity and defensive workrate, and will be kicking themselves for blowing a lead against Sydney. It looms as a tough task against Freo and they will rely heavily on prime movers Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli and Luke Dahlhaus to match it with the Dockers' powerful engine room.

WHERE AND WHEN: Optus Stadium, Saturday, April 21, 6.10pm AWST
TV AND RADIO: Click here for broadcast guide

LAST FIVE TIMES
R3, 2017, Fremantle 13.11 (89) d Western Bulldogs 10.13 (73) at Subiaco Oval
R23, 2016, Fremantle 10.9 (69) d Western Bulldogs 6.13 (49) at Subiaco Oval
R1, 2016, Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103) d Fremantle 5.8 (38) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2015, Fremantle 15.11 (101) d Western Bulldogs 14.4 (88) at Etihad Stadium
R11, 2014, Fremantle 13.11 (89) d Western Bulldogs 6.15 (51) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. Fremantle trailed by 14 points at three quarter-time against the Bulldogs in 2017 before kicking five goals to one behind in the final quarter. Nat Fyfe was best on ground with 33 disposals and six tackles.

2. The Bulldogs continue to struggle to kick straight, ranked last for accuracy this season at 37.6 per cent. They’ve kicked more behinds than goals in all four games.

3. Fremantle has dominated the Western Bulldogs recently, winning six of the last seven and seven of nine since 2011. In total, the teams have played 29 times with the Bulldogs winning 15 games to 14.

4. The Western Bulldogs are ranked last in contested possessions and tackles this season but Fremantle has only been marginally better, ranked 16th in both categories.

5. The Bulldogs have struggled in Perth recently, losing nine of their last 10 matches, and another defeat will mean their first 1-4 start to a season since 2013.

6. David Mundy has been a standout for the Dockers in a mixed role between attack and midfield this season, averaging 24.5 disposals and a goal per game, and the veteran has risen from 69th in the Schick AFL Player Ratings to 52nd overall.

IT'S A BIG WEEK FOR …
Marcus Bontempelli has the size and smarts to compete against Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe and the Dogs will need their young gun - who has booted six goals this year and is averaging 19.5 disposals - to have a significant impact to claim an upset win.

PREDICTION: Fremantle by 19 points

[Twodogs]

Dogs by 38 points.
First goal Tom Boyd
BOG the Bont

[bornadog]

Dogs by 22

First Goal Dickson

BOG Macrae

[Eastdog]

Any Woofers going? I'd say some our WA woofers will go.

I'll be watching from home on the couch with a beer cheering on the mighty Bulldogs.

[Rocket Science]

Fear we'll struggle courtesy of inexperience, an unsettled lineup and the trek.

Margin: Freo by 21 points
First Goal: Big Tom Boyd
Best On Ground: Toby McLean

[Ozza]

I think we’ll win tomorrow.

Dogs by 15 points
BOG: Bont
First Goal: Dunks.,

[AndrewP6]

Them by 22 points
First goal for us Dicko
BOG for us JJ

[LostDoggy]

Dogs by 17 (bring the past fortnight's intensity and we'll win)
1st goal: Boyd
BOG: Macrae

[1eyedog]

I've got a positive feeling about today.

Dogs by 16 points
Dicko
Jac Mac

[boydogs]

We match up well with them. No threatening talls, young side

WB by 26
First Goal Gowers
BOG Macrae

[Bulldog4life]

Doggies by 14
First Goal Tommy Boyd
BOG Wally

[Bulldog4life]

Average Attributes
Fremantle Attribute Western Bulldogs
186.8cm Height 186.8cm
86.6kg Weight 84.8kg
24yr 5mth Age 23yr 4mth
80.2 Games 58.0
Total Players By Games
Fremantle Games Western Bulldogs
12 Less than 50 11
2 50 to 99 6
4 100 to 149 5
4 150 or more 0


Youngest team in the round once again.

[Eastdog]

Dogs by 17 (bring the past fortnight's intensity and we'll win)
1st goal: Boyd
BOG: Macrae

Agree PP. We bring that pressure to the table again then huge chance to win. It's an interstate game but it's a very winnable interstate game.

[Flamethrower]

Freo 16.6.102 d WB 4.14.38

1st goal: Easton Wood in 2nd quarter

Best for WB: Toby McLean

BOG: Nat Fyfe (always kills us in Perth)

[ratsmac]

Dogs by 39 points
First goal - Big Tommy Boyd and to kick 7
BOG - Boyd, of course Boyd, he just kicked 7 for goodness sake.

[Twodogs]

Freo 16.6.102 d WB 4.14.38

1st goal: Easton Wood in 2nd quarter

Best for WB: Toby McLean

BOG: Nat Fyfe (always kills us in Perth)

Bloody hell, FT. I saw your scores and thought "the game hasn't started yet hasn't it?" It's going to be one if those days, I just know it.

[Eastdog]

I have my Doggies jumper ready to go!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Dogs by 1 point
First goal: Dickson
BOG: Bontempelli

[Eastdog]

Tom with the first!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Great start by Tom. Owned it as soon as the ump blew the whistle

[Eastdog]

Bad kick Lukas Webb.

[Throughandthrough]

good start to the match

[bornadog]

Bad kick Lukas Webb.

Got to take his chances

[Eastdog]

Good pressure so far.

[1eyedog]

Foot skills are little league quality

[Rocket Science]

Shit skills kill plays dead.

Put it on endless loop and make the players cop it via headphones on the entire flight home.

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

JJ is not Gilbee

[1eyedog]

Lucky the Dockers are shite

[jeemak]

No respect for the football when we get it. What's the point in working so hard for the bloody thing.

[jeemak]

Getting ready for a ten goal hiding.

[westbulldog]

Walters = protected species

[Eastdog]

Good early pressure but diminished a little in the 2nd part of the quarter. Our skill level MUST pick up.

[The Underdog]

This has got “not our night” written all over it.
We look a mile off

[kruder]

Looking lost on the bigger ground.

[chef]

Maybe we need to start a kicking club to go with the handball one.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I hope Bevo and the recruiting team make skill by foot and decision making a priority for the next few drafts, trade or F.A. acquisitions. We are so frustrating to watch, even when we play relatively well.

[G-Mo77]

Great to see Boydy slot that through but that's the only highlight. We couldn't hit the side of a building by foot. Naughton's kicking is absolutely atrocious

[jeemak]

This is bordering on unwatchable.

[jeemak]

Good work Mitch! Excellent finish.

We need to pile on some pressure by locking it into our forward fifty for extended periods of time.

[Eastdog]

Great goal Wally. He has kicked some good ones. Caleb did well.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Two weeks in a row Wallis has nailed clutch, difficult goals from the boundary. Leading the way.

[Eastdog]

Lippy!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Nice 1st AFL goal Lipinski.

[AndrewP6]

Great to see Boydy having an impact, he looks like he wants to score.

[Eastdog]

Daniel been busy tonight.

[Eastdog]

Naughton and English still very young so they will make a few errors. I think we can't be too hard on them.

Great fightback to get right back into it in the 2nd.

[Eastdog]

You gotta love Bont. Champion!

[jeemak]

How can you not penalise someone tackling a player going for a mark?

It's just so bad.

[G-Mo77]

That goal hurts. We've been all over them this quarter.

[Throughandthrough]

game over

[kruder]

Being way too cute its been raining for ages and we trying to play etihad footy.

[Eastdog]

Another to them. Really hurts that one.

[AndrewP6]

Honeychurch has had 16. Unbelievable.

[jeemak]

Honey has been doing almost everything right............but he makes it difficult to like him sometimes.

[jeemak]

We need to make a conscious effort not to crowd the ball or contest, because once Fremantle are out they're able to transition much too quickly.

[The Underdog]

Not sure we’ll get to 39, let alone overtake them

[josie]

And Honey’s lack of awareness is appalling. Love his endeavour but really....

[ledge]

Hunger isn't as much as it was last two games , did the Sydney game take it out of us ?

[AndrewP6]

Honey has been doing almost everything right............but he makes it difficult to like him sometimes.

Every time he takes possession I have to look away.

[kruder]

Chip.Chip.Chip.Chip. Um its wet boys? Isn't it? Hopefully we see some sort of adjustment as its obviously not possible via a runner or at quarter time.

[Throughandthrough]

Honeychurch has had 16. Unbelievable.


how many of them effective though?

[josie]

Put Bonti on the ball.

[westbulldog]

Short kicking after 1/2 time = lose, simple

[Eastdog]

Those Freo goals hurt an otherwise good quarter from us. We are hanging in there. Need to be better when using the footy.

I've liked Boyd, Bont, JJ, Daniel. Wood must stay in defence.

[chef]

Bont at CHF is worse than Bont in the ruck. What a waste

[AndrewP6]

how many of them effective though?

Yep, that's why I said it was unbelievable. AFL stats say he's going at 81%. Also unbelievable.

[Eastdog]

Bont at CHF is worse than Bont in the ruck. What a waste

Not the best but just so important when even not at his best.

[chef]

Not the best but just so important when even not at his best.

Hes one of the best mids in the league but we play him forward.

#bulldoglogic

[Jeanette54]

Hes one of the best mids in the league but we play him forward.

#bulldoglogic

Yes, and we really need a strong body in the middle, we are being killed by their clearances.

[Eastdog]

Yes, and we really need a strong body in the middle, we are being killed by their clearances.

We are missing Hunter and Libba

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Way to easy right from the start of the second half. If things don't change right now, then this has all the hallmarks of a 10 goal loss.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Oh ok. It would appear you are allowed to smash Macrae in the back. Good to know.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

This smells already.
Whatever we said at half time..it REALLY had an impact.

[ledge]

Never ever ever back us over there against freo we just don't turn up.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Ridiculous. Comical. Call it. They're done.

[jeemak]

This is a thorough waste of a Saturday evening.

As bad as the first two weeks were this is disgusting me more.

Caleb Daniel just shat his pants in the centre of the ground and it's lucky not to have cost us a goal.

[ledge]

The last two weeks were just a show , this is the real us.

[AndrewP6]

Good to see them come out after half time and respond to the challenge. :rolleyes:

[jeemak]

This smells already.
Whatever we said at half time..it REALLY had an impact.

Boys, want you to go out there and *!*!*!*! up Saturday night for all of our supporters. Got it?

[Greystache]

Honestly I can think of better things to do than watch this garbage. I'm out.

[Eastdog]

Cmon Dogs Lift! Lift!

[G-Mo77]

At training head down to the beach, whoever can kick the ball in the water gets a game.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Putrid. I don't think i can watch much more. We're not the team right now who is able to stop these sorts of runs in game. This looks like JLT 2nd half v Pies and Rnd 1 & 2.

[kruder]

Is Bontempelli and Wood playing?

[Sedat]

Nice kick Dahl - I get there's no forward structure but aimlessly bombing it to 3 Dockers defenders is just dumb.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

What the fff. heck was Dahlhaus trying to do??

[ledge]

Wtf? Dalhaus kicks it to three freo players on there own !

[Eastdog]

Bont has been quiet so far this season. Was good last week.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Brayshaw and Cerra look like 100 game vets against our guys.

[jeemak]

I'm out.

[kruder]

Bont has been quiet so far this season. Was good last week.

And what about Wood?

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Thats it I'm done for tonight.

[Eastdog]

And what about Wood?

Yeah he was ok last week but it is a struggle him and our young defenders tonight.

[Eastdog]

Shocking kick Toby!

We are getting thrashed right now.

[Sedat]

Nice kick Toby. We have so little care for the ball when we have possession.

[westbulldog]

These short kicks are really great, Carlton can't wait

[ledge]

Am I right in saying we won a wooden spoon two years after the 1954 premiership ?
Déjavu . We don't just lose we get smashed.

[bornadog]

Unwatchable

[Eastdog]

We are playing crap.

[angelopetraglia]

Seriously can’t believe how bad we have been this quarter ... as bad I can ever remember us playing. We can’t string two possessions together.

[Sedat]

Seriously can’t believe how bad we have been this quarter ... as bad I can ever remember us playing.
3 weeks ago is not a long time ;)

[ledge]

21 points at 3/4 time and haven't looked like even going into our forward 50 . What an absolute embarrassment.

[AndrewP6]

Fremantle can stuff it up in the middle, and still run into an open goal. FFS.

[ledge]

Is there such thing as going man on man or putting extra back to at least stop it ???
Just do something different , out coached out played and stubborn to change it.

[kruder]

Whenever we don't have Dickson and Redpath we just have no one presenting up at the footy.

[angelopetraglia]

3 weeks ago is not a long time ;)

At one stage 6.3 to zero inside 50s. Zero!!!!

[Sedat]

Who is our midfield/stoppage coach? Our work at the stoppages has blown tonight.

[AndrewP6]

Who is our midfield/stoppage coach? Our work at the stoppages has blown tonight.

Corey -midfield
Gia - stoppages.

[Sedat]

At one stage 6.3 to zero inside 50s. Zero!!!!
2nd qtr against West Coke was just as non-competitive, and I share your exasperation about tonight!

[Eastdog]

Boyd a shining light tonight.

[Eastdog]

Whenever we don't have Dickson and Redpath we just have no one presenting up at the footy.

Dicko a big loss.

[Murphy'sLore]

We have looked like an utter rabble all night. Embarrassing.

[G-Mo77]

I'm still watching now but I won't be bothering to turn up next week, I mean our players don't bother turning up why should supporters.

[Eastdog]

I'm still watching now but I won't be bothering to turn up next week, I mean our players don't bother turning up why should supporters.

We always need the support. Now more than ever.

[Murphy'sLore]

I'd rather look at Facebook than this crap.

[Eastdog]

Absolute sh*t!

[GVGjr]

Tough game to watch, we've been out pressured and out played for the majority of the game. Can we really keep writing off performances like this because of the age profile of the team we are selecting?

The next 2 games against Carlton and Gold Coast will be real tests of our character.

[ledge]

When does Bevo admit this is unacceptable rubbish and someone needs to be accountable?

[angelopetraglia]

We are making Freo look like they have won the last three Premierships.

[AndrewP6]

I think when you capitulate so meekly as we have now 3 times this year, your character is rightly called into question. This is McCartney-esque insipid.

[Sedat]

Our midfield is in crisis. It is nowhere near as deep as we think, we don't work anywhere near hard enough defensively, we lack skill and turn the ball over far too much.

And the most alarming thing is that there is nobody except Porter coming through Footscray as genuine mids.

[Grantysghost]

Has any team ever had a bigger effort to score ratio? Like trying to get blood from a stone.

[angelopetraglia]

Has any team ever had a bigger effort to score ratio? Like trying to get blood from a stone.

We were like this all 2016. It just clicked in September largely off the back of Picken having an unbelievable September.

[Sedat]

Tough game to watch, we've been out pressured and out played for the majority of the game. Can we really keep writing off performances like this because of the age profile of the team we are selecting?
It is the same age profile that played with merit the last 2 weeks. It's an attitudinal thing - we simply haven't worked hard enough without the ball, and we piss possession down the drain far too easily when we do have the ball.

[ledge]

I think all clubs look at us as a percentage boost

[GVGjr]

It is the same age profile that played with merit the last 2 weeks. It's an attitudinal thing - we simply haven't worked hard enough without the ball, and we piss possession down the drain far too easily when we do have the ball.

I guess you can expect young teams to have fluctuating form but I can easily accept fluctuating effort.
I try and look for the positives each week when we lose but other than gaining some experience for the younger guys this game has been particularly difficult to watch and come up with much positive.

[kruder]

We were like this all 2016. It just clicked in September largely off the back of Picken having an unbelievable September.

We actually played our best regular season footy in 2015. People seem to forget about that.

[ledge]

Lucky we aren't playing Melbourne city they would score more goals than us.

[Eastdog]

We actually played our best regular season footy in 2015. People seem to forget about that.

Agree. I reckon it was a bit better the 15 H&A than the 16 H&A season.

[Remi Moses]

Their 5 fans would enjoy that
Just totally insipid , and a lack of work rate and execution.
I actually think they all hate each other because nobody can find a target .
We need kicking and we have zero mid depth .

[kruder]

Agree. I reckon it was a bit better the 15 H&A than the 16 one when we won the flag.

A lot better particularly going forward.

[ledge]

Barrrett and Caro will love this , watch for this weeks massacre in the media.

[Eastdog]

A lot better particularly going forward.

Stringer was good that year. Libba great year in 16.

[angelopetraglia]

As bad as we have been. Diabolical as we know. Does anyone give us a chance of winning the next three at home against Blues-Suns-Lions?

[kruder]

Stringer was good that year. Libba great year in 16.

Crameri,Dickson and Stringer is nearly the best forward line we have ever had. We just got the press wrong in that first final got way too high up the park.

[angelopetraglia]

Crameri,Dickson and Stringer is nearly the best forward line we have ever had. We just got the press wrong in that first final got way too high up the park.

This run of games was unbelievable in 2015:

R17 Magpies Etihad Win 104-86
R18 Bombers Etihad Win 127-40
R19 Power Etihad Win 128-64
R20 Demons Etihad Win 153-55

[kruder]

This run of games was unbelievable in 2015:

R17 Magpies Etihad Win 104-86
R18 Bombers Etihad Win 127-40
R19 Power Etihad Win 128-64
R20 Demons Etihad Win 153-55

Yeah my favourite regular season of all time we were so exciting to watch.

[Twodogs]

Am I right in saying we won a wooden spoon two years after the 1954 premiership ?
Déjavu . We don't just lose we get smashed.


No we finished in the top 4 in 1956. We won the spoon in 1959.

[G-Mo77]

As bad as we have been. Diabolical as we know. Does anyone give us a chance of winning the next three at home against Blues-Suns-Lions?

We're not at home against GC, it's in Ballarat.

[angelopetraglia]

Even more difficult for the boys from Brisbane.

[bornadog]

Even more difficult for the boys from Brisbane.

Next three are winnable, but who knows.

[kruder]

What are peoples thoughts on Lipinski? Only early I know but he seems another player on our list that lacks a weapon, an elite AFL trait.

[ledge]

No we finished in the top 4 in 1956. We won the spoon in 1959.

Well we are heading that way a lot quicker.

[bornadog]

What are peoples thoughts on Lipinski? Only early I know but he seems another player on our list that lacks a weapon, an elite AFL trait.

19 year old playing his 2nd game - I think I will wait till he has had 20 games before I make up my mind.

[angelopetraglia]

What are peoples thoughts on Lipinski? Only early I know but he seems another player on our list that lacks a weapon, an elite AFL trait.

His from Eltham so worth persisting just on that basis. Something in the water in Eltham producing Bont, Zaharakis, Vlaustin, Caddy and Coffeild not too mention Adam Simpson.

On a serous note, he has a massive tank, is a great kick and has elite hands but is slow. Too make it needs to develop his inside game as he dosn’t have enough outside acceleration or speed.

[Eastdog]

Very disappointing tonight watching from home.

Our first half effort was decent and we were right with them but our ball use was pathetic and that was the difference up to half time.
We went to sleep in the 3rd quarter and this is where it was lost. No pressure and we could not get our hands on the footy. Just terrible.
Got some junk time goals in the last but it was too late.

Need to review this game and come back out next week back at Etihad roaring to go.

[Sedat]

On a serous note, he has a massive tank, is a great kick and has elite hands but is slow. Too make it needs to develop his inside game as he dosn’t have enough outside acceleration or speed.
Sounds an awful lot like Webb.

[kruder]

His from Eltham so worth persisting just on that basis. Something in the water in Eltham producing Bont, Zaharakis, Vlaustin, Caddy and Coffeild not too mention Adam Simpson.

On a serous note, he has a massive tank, is a great kick and has elite hands but is slow. Too make it needs to develop his inside game as he dosn’t have enough outside acceleration or speed.

We seem to have a lot of players with similar traits.

[ledge]

No we finished in the top 4 in 1956. We won the spoon in 1959.

Well we are heading that way a lot quicker.

[merantau]

So glad I didn't watch this game. Must be baffling for the coaches. Two horror weeks, two good weeks and then back to horror.
The next 3 weeks will likely decide our 2018 destiny. Win all three and we're still in the hunt at 4 and 4. We have shown we can match it with the best when we are "on" but the Jekyll and Hide intensity and execution is a major worry.
The game is played above the shoulders too. What is going on in those heads ATM?

[LostDoggy]

First game of footy at the new stadium for the dogs and same dismal outcome. Attending dogs games over here really is hard work (2016 excepted of course, well the last game in 2016 excepted, the second last one was more time script).

Can't say I was too surprised. The injuries, youth and lack of depth in the midfield were always going to count against us. Probably the most depressing thing was how slow we looked - one area that we can't really blame on injuries. There's not a lot of speed on the injury list to come back in.

Overall we made a second rate freo team look like world beaters. Makes for a depressing ride home on the bus when you're the only RWB (along with Mrs Wooster and the junior dogs) in a sea of purple.

But in brighter news, big tom looked really good. Covered the ground well and looked threatening given the limited opportunities. Was great to see him out there. English, out muscled in the ruck, but super impressive around the ground.

Also liked sucker's game much more live than I do usually on the box. Thought he tried really hard all night. His more ambitious kicks don't always come off but it's not like his under no pressure or (last night at least) there are plenty of easy options available to him.

Finally, the new stadium, and the whole precinct in fact, is pretty flash. One good thing about the night was that we ended up sitting in the middle of a group of vets who were on the ground at the start of the game for the Anzac ceremony, who were very pleasant. Much better than the obnoxious one-sided WA supporters I usually have to put up with (although in fairness, freo crew tend to be better than the other lot).

Now looking forward to the west coast match later in the year...

[boydogs]

What are peoples thoughts on Lipinski? Only early I know but he seems another player on our list that lacks a weapon, an elite AFL trait.

Good size, goal sense and can play midfield. Josh Dunkley with a better kick but worse marking & contested work