When and where: Saturday 27 April, 7.40pm AEST (5.40pm AWST), Optus Stadium (Whadjuk)
Broadcast: Channel 7/Fox Footy/Kayo
Head-to-head: Played 38 (won 20, lost 18)
Last time we met: Round 16 2023, WB 16.6 (102) def. Fremantle 11.7 (73)

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What it means

After a confidence-boosting 60-point win over the Saints, the Dogs will be keen to keep the winning momentum going when they head over to the West this weekend.. They’ll be wary of Fremantle though - which will be looking to respond after a shock loss to the Eagles – so the visitors will need to bring their best.

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED: CHECK OUT OUR GAME-DAY GUIDE

Who to watch

Fresh off a career-equalling half-dozen against the Saints, Aaron Naughton will likely cop a lot of attention up forward come Saturday night. The 24-year-old notched up the 200-goal milestone last weekend, and will no doubt have another battle on his hands dealing with one of Luke Ryan or Alex Pearce. The West Aussie thrives in his home state however, having kicked 14 majors in 10 games at Optus – his largest output outside of Victoria.

Open training at Optus

West Australian Bulldogs fans are invited to watch the team’s final light training session at Optus Stadium on Friday afternoon. Fresh from the flight, the Captain’s Run will take place from 4pm, with gates opening from 3:45pm. Fans can access the stadium via Gate D. For more information, please click here.

Dogs wary of Dockers’ response

As coach Luke Beveridge said in his press conference earlier this week, he’s under no illusions that Fremantle will come out firing after a shock loss to the Eagles last week. “The circumstances aren't dissimilar with probably the scrutiny in WA after the loss in the Derby, Fremantle will come out breathing fire - we have got to expect that and have got to be at our best,” he said. The Dogs would’ve learned plenty from facing Essendon a few weeks ago – the week after they lost to Port Adelaide – so will hopefully be even better prepared come Saturday night.

The Western Bulldogs have gone down to Fremantle by 24 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite trailing by just five points at the final change, it was the hosts who were able to arrest momentum when it mattered most - kicking the final three goals to seal a 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) win. 

Luke Beveridge expected Fremantle to come out "breathing fire" after its dispiriting Derby loss in round six, and his instincts were right early as James Aish, Josh Treacy and Pat Voss laid big tackles and the Dockers kicked two quick goals. 

Players appeared to struggle with the Optus Stadium surface and were slipping over frequently, but the Bulldogs were able to steady and kick back-to-back goals through Aaron Naughton and Tim English.  

A strong contested mark and typically accurate set shot after the siren gave the Dockers an eight-point lead at the first break and some reward for their midfield ascendency. 

Challenges came for both teams as Freo key defender Josh Draper was substituted with a hamstring injury and Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman succumbed to an elbow issue, landing awkwardly in an aerial contest and leaving the ground with trainers.

Bailey Dale, who was brilliant throughout for the Bulldogs, continued to lift and pushed forward to kick two goals in the second term, including a brilliant set shot from a tight angle that cut the half-time margin to just three points. 

The margin never stretched beyond the 12 points it sat at halfway through the third quarter when Fyfe plucked the ball off Bulldogs interceptor Buku Khamis and snapped his second goal of the season. 

With the Dockers' backline undersized after the loss of Draper, however, Sam Darcy emerged as the dangerman and kicked two goals from contested marks. If Marcus Bontempelli had converted from 15m out, the Bulldogs would have had a lead going into the tense finale.

Dale finished his night with 30 touches, nine marks and the two goals, while Adam Treloar (29 disposals, nine clearances) and Bontempelli (27 disposals, five marks, five clearances) battled in the middle.

Tim English was impactful with 23 disposals, six tackles, seven marks, one goal and 28 hit-outs, as was Darcy (13 disposals, seven marks, three goals) and Ed Richards (23 disposals, four marks). 

The Bulldogs will look to reset and return to the winner's list when they host Hawthorn next Sunday in the return of Kidzmania at Marvel Stadium.

FREMANTLE                       4.4   7.6   10.9   14.11 (95)  
WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.2   7.3   9.10   10.11 (71)   

GOALS 
Fremantle: Treacy 3, Banfield 3, Frederick 2, Jackson 2, Fyfe, Voss, Walters, Young 
Western Bulldogs: Darcy 3, Dale 2, Naughton 2, English, Vandermeer, West 

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Fyfe, Pearce, Treacy, Aish, Brayshaw, Young
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Darcy, Treloar, Jones, Richards, English  

INJURIES
Fremantle: Draper (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Weightman (elbow)  

LATE CHANGES 
Fremantle: Nil 
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore (illness) replaced in the selected side by Caleb Daniel 

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Cooper Simpson (replaced Josh Draper at quarter time) 
Western Bulldogs: Caleb Daniel (replaced Cody Weightman in the second quarter)  

Crowd: 45,931 at Optus Stadium