Marcus Bontempelli all class as Western Bulldogs thrash Fremantle
Marcus Bontempelli’s goal of the year contender capped off a superb day for the Doggies, who were far too strong for Freo.
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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 contender — and 15 score involvements to play a leading role in the 23.11 (149) to 12.10 (82) win.
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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, with Bontempelli’s goal underscoring 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 crumb. 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. 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 led 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.
Originally published as Marcus Bontempelli all class as Western Bulldogs thrash Fremantle
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