Home

Live AFL Scores: Fremantle Dockers take on Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium

Headshot of Aaron Kirby
Aaron KirbyThe West Australian
CommentsComments
Joel Freijah of the Bulldogs contests for the ball against Caleb Serong.
Camera IconJoel Freijah of the Bulldogs contests for the ball against Caleb Serong. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Fremantle are hoping to continue their winning ways against Western Bulldogs who are sitting eighth and trying to avoid playing a wild card final.

Hayden Young returns for the contest in place of Corey Wagner who picked up an injury during the week while the Dogs are without Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman up forward.

But can the visitors find their bite or will it be all bark?

Follow all the action from Optus Stadium with our live blog.

Reporting LIVE

QT: Fremantle 9, Western Bulldogs 8

There was not much to write about in that first term with both teams content to probe and just not give anything away.

Fremantle were the far more dangerous side though, forcing the Dogs to defend to the last line whenever they entered the forward half.

Williams and Liberatore lead the possession-getters with eight while Worner is the Dockers’ leader with seven disposals.

The Dogs only managed six inside 50s for the term despite only being behind by two in the clearance numbers but a late goal keeps them well and truly in the contest.

From small to big!

Dudley wins the high contact free kick in the forward 50 but his set shot from the boundary is terrible.

But it doesn’t matter when Jackson is lingering.

The big fella taps the contested mark in the air and then pulls it in on the way down.

He dobs the set shot from 20 metres out and we finally have a major on the board.

FRE 9, WB 1

Defense first

Both teams have a man behind the ball and it’s made scoring difficult.

The Dockers have missed a few shots and have been a little scrappy going inside 50.

The Dogs have only been forward a couple of times.

FRE 3, WB 1

Off the leash

Murphy Reid is already pulling all the strings for Fremantle.

He has given them two inside 50s and should have been set up for a set shot himself but Amiss’ kick just missed him.

The Dogs need to glue a man to his hip pronto.

FRE 2, WB 1

Underway!

The Dogs get the first clearance but the Dockers recover at half back.

Bolton’s run up the wing comes to a halt but the home side force a forward contest.

FRE 0, WB 0

Five minute warning

The teams are going through their last drills and the captains are making their way to the middle for the toss.

Welcome sight

The Dockers will be very happy to see this man back on the field.

His latest setback was a dose of illness but it’s been another rough year of injuries for the star midfielder.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Hayden Young of the Dockers warms up during the round 21 AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, on July 31, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)
Camera IconHayden Young. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The drip

It’s not quite the red carpet of NBA and WNBA arrivals but the Dockers were repping their colours upon arrival tonight.

Dogs’ Conundrum

The Bulldogs will have all sorts of headaches in defence trying to stop Treacy, Amiss and Voss.

Rory Lobb is likely to play forward as cover for Naughton so it leaves them bereft of defensive options.

For the Dockers, their key to the match is pretty simple, stop Marcus Bontempelli.

The Dogs skipper loves playing the Dockers and has laid down some beatings.

Milestone men

Josh Treacy and Hayden Young are sharing the 100-game milestone.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails