Fremantle’s 10-goal second half sinks Bulldogs in AFL thriller, Hayden Young stars

Key facts

• Fremantle defeated Western Bulldogs 17.12 (114) to 15.12 (102) at Marvel Stadium.
• The Dockers kicked 10 goals in the second half after trailing by six goals in the first term.
• Hayden Young kicked three goals from 20 disposals, including a Goal of the Year contender.
• Shai Bolton had 30 disposals and one goal; Luke Jackson recorded 18 touches, eight tackles, one goal and 36 hit-outs.
• Marcus Bontempelli had 33 disposals and two goals, playing with a heavily strapped knee.
• The Bulldogs fell to their fourth straight loss after a 4-0 start to the season.
• Fremantle secured a top-two spot with the win, their seventh consecutive victory.

Dockers roar back after coach’s rare explosion

Fremantle has stamped its flag credentials with an epic second-half avalanche to overrun a brave Western Bulldogs in a 12-point victory at Marvel Stadium. After a hard-fought first half where both clubs traded blows, the Dockers dominated in a 10-goal second half — three to Hayden Young including a Goal of the Year contender — in an almighty surge. The Bulldogs never gave up. They kicked three-straight goals in the fourth term to cut their deficit from 28 points to five in the dying minutes. But Shai Bolton delivered the dagger to sink the hearts of Dogs fans in a thriller. It saw the Dockers claim the 17.12 (114) to 15.12 (102) road victory and a seventh-straight win under Justin Longmuir as they secured a top two spot by the end of the round.

Quarter-time spray sparks dramatic turnaround

Longmuir’s side started particularly slow, giving up six goals in the first term as the Freo coach delivered a fierce quarter-time spray to his players. It sparked the desired response as the Dockers looked a completely different team including a big turnaround from their star-studded midfield. Hayden Young had stolen the show by full-time, but it was all Marcus Bontempelli early. The Bulldogs superstar skipper, clearly playing hampered with his knee still heavily strapped, was looming as the story of a Friday night upset after a 15-disposal first quarter.

Bontempelli’s brilliance and injury battle

Bontempelli was completely dominant in the Bulldogs’ six-goal first quarter with a 15-disposal period to inflict maximum damage on Fremantle. The Dogs superstar skipper, clearly playing hampered with his knee still heavily strapped, finished with two goals from 33 disposals. Meanwhile the undermanned Dogs suffered their fourth-straight loss after a 4-0 start to the season. Luke Beveridge’s side at least welcomed one star back as Tim English (15 touches, 21 hit-outs) returned from a knee injury.

Young, Bolton and Jackson lead the charge

Hayden Young kicked three goals from 20 disposals, including a Goal of the Year contender, to steal the show. Shai Bolton had 30 disposals and one goal, while Luke Jackson recorded 18 touches, eight tackles, one goal and 36 hit-outs. The Dockers’ midfield resurgence was key to their second-half dominance, turning the tide after a sluggish start.

Round eight drama across the league

The thrilling final moments between Collingwood and Hawthorn in round eight saw a dramatic draw. In the final 20 seconds, Collingwood’s Moore dropped a mark, panicked and wrapped an arm around the neck of Hawthorn’s Moore, turning one of the great Collingwood wins into one of the great Collingwood draws. Elsewhere, the Bombers were humiliated on Anzac Day, with no other word for it. The Blues, with a 1-6 scoreline, face a psychological weight but remain a sneaky chance against the Saints.

Sliding Doors returns with Barrett’s takes

Damian Barrett’s Sliding Doors is back in full swing for 2026, with thoughts on all 18 clubs and the AFL. Barrett pumped up Izak Rankine, noting it’s high time he gets busy in 2026, with a Friday night Showdown in round eight as a potential kickstart. Among the ins for Saturday’s match against Essendon at Marvel Stadium is an aged and world-weary 37-year-old — the brilliant Dayne Zorko — and an uncapped 18-year-old, Cody Curtin, the No.43 pick in last year’s national draft. Curtin’s highly touted older brother Dan makes his much-anticipated return from injury for the Crows in the same round.

What comes next for the contenders

Fremantle’s seventh straight win cements their top-two spot and flag credentials, while the Bulldogs face a crisis after four consecutive losses following a perfect start. The Dockers will look to maintain their momentum, while the Dogs must regroup to avoid a further slide. The round eight results have reshuffled the ladder, with the Dockers emerging as a genuine premiership threat under Longmuir’s guidance.

The bottom line

• Fremantle’s 10-goal second half, sparked by a quarter-time spray, turned a six-goal deficit into a 12-point win.
• Hayden Young’s three goals, including a Goal of the Year contender, and Shai Bolton’s 30 disposals were decisive.
• Marcus Bontempelli played through a knee injury with 33 disposals and two goals but couldn’t prevent the Bulldogs’ fourth straight loss.
• The Bulldogs fell from 4-0 to 4-4, while Fremantle secured a top-two spot with their seventh consecutive win.
• Round eight also featured a dramatic Collingwood-Hawthorn draw and the return of Dayne Zorko and Cody Curtin.
• Damian Barrett’s Sliding Doors column highlighted Izak Rankine’s need to step up and the Blues’ psychological battle at 1-6.