After losing three on the trot, and doing so by considerable margins, it looked as though this was a nightmare scenario for the Western Bulldogs.
Not only were they facing a team that was riding a six-game winning streak, but they were doing so with a backline that appeared to be made up of crete paper and clag.
The Dogs’ back six was always going to be a problem for the club this season. It was not addressed in the off-season, and it led to the club having to lean on players like Buku Khamis and Jed Busslinger to hold down key positions. Coming into a clash against the Freo Dockers, complete with a forward line consisting of Josh Treacy, Mason Cox, Patrick Voss, and Jye Amiss, this was always going to stretch them.
However, as the Dogs hit the first quarter with a point to prove, it suddenly seemed as though those big blokes weren’t that big at all.
It was the Dogs walking tall, as they slammed on six goals to two in the opening quarter, shocking the visitors and causing the normally composed coach, Justin Longmuir, to give his team a spray at the first break.
Whilst the Dockers responded in the second, it was not until Murphy Reid ran forward to slot a goal deep into red time that the margin narrowed to within a couple of goals.
The Dockers made the most of the “premiership quarter” before putting their foot down in the last, rattling off four-straight to start the quarter, including a ridiculous goal from Hayden Young that was every bit as good as you’ll see all year.
The Dogs were not done, but they had to be perfect, and with Shai Bolton running riot, Freo proved too strong. Arthur Jones attempted to drag his team back into it, but even after some of his teammates joined in the run, it was too little, too late. Bolton snapped one from a stoppage and that was all she wrote.
The Dogs showed up, but the Dockers were good enough to withstand the challenge, and moved to the top of the ladder in the process.
Are they the real deal in 2026? I thought they were ready last year, but with another 12 months unde rtheir belt, this was a win borne of maturity. They have the start they needed. Now, they just have to continue to build toward that top four finish.
Let’s jump into the Good, Bad, and Ugly from this belter at Marvel Stadium.
This is just the introduction – the remainder of this article is for our members. They support me, and I provide for them. It’s a good deal.
Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
