Western Bulldogs suffer shock loss against Fremantle after slow start at Subiaco

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has lamented his side’s slow start, forced to play catch up football for most of the night being suffering their first loss of the season against Fremantle.

The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season against the Dockers. Picture: Getty

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has lamented his side’s slow start against Fremantle on Saturday night after suffering its first loss of the season.

The Dockers made a statement at selection, dropping six players including veterans Zac Dawson and Danyle Pearce, and it paid off as a more youthful side kicked the first four goals before Bulldog Lachie Hunter stamped his authority on the match by kicking his side’s first three goals.

Lyon’s punt on youth paid off as the Dockers then withstood the Bulldogs fightback, to post a 13.11 (89) to 10.13 (73) win.

“They jumped us. Clear as day,” Beveridge said. “We weren’t prepared for that unfortunately.

“It took a lot of energy to claw our way back. I thought we had a very good third quarter, but just didn’t capitalise on all those entries.

“And then Fremantle came again, and full credit they played really well.

“It was a combination of Fremantle’s intensity levels, and us not being able to match it in that last quarter.”

Liam Picken’s night ended before half time after suffering concussion.

Liam Picken’s night was over before halftime after copping a hip to the head while attempting to tackle Fremantle’s Tom Sheridan.

Picken lay dazed on the ground as play continued dangerously close to him. But the umpire finally blew the whistle to stop play once Nat Fyfe collected the ball and put his hand up to signal something was wrong.

The Dockers trailed by 14 points at the final change, but booted five unanswered goals in the final term on the back of Fyfe’s brilliance.

Fyfe finished the match with 33 disposals, while Stephen Hill, Lachie Neale, and Michael Walters (three goals) were also important.

Hunter helped his team get back into the match with 16 disposals and three goals in the first half, while Marcus Bontempelli overcame a slow start to finish with 24 possessions and a goal.

Fremantle’s willingness to run in waves and play on at all costs paid big dividends early as rookie Brady Grey, Cam McCarthy, David Mundy, and Hayden Crozier all scored goals to give the Dockers a 26-0 lead.

The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the season against the Dockers. Picture: Getty

Hunter scored the Bulldogs’ only goal of the term, with Fremantle receiving a standing ovation from the 28,865 crowd at the quarter-time siren.

North Smith medallist Jason Johannisen tallied 12 disposals in the second quarter as the Bulldogs started to turn the tide.

Hunter booted his second and third goals to reduce the gap to 12 points, and when Bontempelli outmarked tagger Connor Blakely to kick his first goal, the scores were level.

The Bulldogs looked on track for victory when they opened up a 15-point lead late in the third quarter.

But Fremantle’s manic pressure and run in the final quarter blew the Bulldogs off the park, with Fyfe tallying 12 disposals for the term.

FREMANTLE 4.4 6.7 8.10 13.11 (89)

WESTERN BULLDOGS 1.3 5.6 10.12 10.13 (73)

Goals: Fremantle: M Walters 3 C McCarthy 2 D Mundy 2 H Crozier 2 S Kersten 2 B Grey L Weller. Western Bulldogs: L Hunter 3 R Murphy 2 J Johannissen J Stringer M Bontempelli M Boyd T McLean.

Best: Dockers: N Fyfe, S Hill, D Mundy, J Hamling, M Walters, A Sandilands. Bulldogs: L Hunter, L Dahlhaus, T Liberatore, J Macrae, M Bontempelli, J Johannisen.

Crowd: 28,865 at Subiaco

Originally published as Western Bulldogs suffer shock loss against Fremantle after slow start at Subiaco