Fremantle went after former Docker Rory Lobb, nevertheless it was the Western Bulldogs ahead who received the final giggle.
Before the primary bounce of the sport the Dockers made their intentions clear, Lobb was in for heavy consideration all evening lengthy.
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As the barbs continued to fly he was all through the evening, it was elsewhere across the floor the place the Bulldogs took benefit.
In what was a decent contest all through the opening three quarters at Optus Stadium, the Dogs had been too robust late as they pulled away to file a 49-point victory.
The Bulldogs had been virtually left to rue a dismal show in entrance of purpose within the opening time period as they squandered each alternative that got here there approach.
After six straight behinds, skipper Marcus Bontempelli lastly delivered because the Dogs held the lead at each change.
Bontempelli was his ordinary self on the evening as he once more proved why he’s probably the most damaging gamers within the sport.
The skipper completed with 31 disposals, two targets, eight clearances, 10 tackles and a team-high 528 metres gained.
“He is the complete player. He has done everything tonight,” Matthew Lloyd stated about him on 3AW.
But it was the eye proven to Lobb in his return to Optus Stadium that overshadowed proceedings on the evening.
Every time the towering ahead went close to the ball he was showered with boos from the gang and virtually each Bulldogs ahead 50 entry resulted within the Dockers going after him.
Unfortunately the brute onslaught towards their former teammate regularly performed towards the Dockers as each time they went after him it resulted within the Dogs capitalising on the mismatch in numbers.
“It’s all part of it, they probably got me with a couple of set shots there. I put a bit of pressure on myself, but it’s a great atmosphere down here,” Lobb stated post-game.
The fourth quarter bleeding was dropped at a slight halt for the Dockers when a fan determined to expire onto the bottom.
Security received a maintain of him with one guard delivering a deal with that will have seen him despatched to the tribunal had it eventuated in sport.
“Slight hold up here JB, some idiot has run onto the ground,” Brian Taylor stated on Channel 7’s protection.
The win leaves the Bulldogs at 3-3 on the season and nonetheless exterior the highest eight due to a lacklustre proportion.
Fremantle droop to 2-4 on the yr with coach Justin Longmuir’s seat getting hotter and warmer because the season unfolds.
After a momentum constructing end to finish final season, the Dockers trustworthy shall be rising stressed after the indicators to kick off 2023.
Things gained’t get any simpler over the subsequent 5 rounds with video games towards 4 groups many pundits predict shall be taking part in September motion.
They’ll tackle the Brisbane Lions subsequent week, earlier than a slight reprieve towards Hawthorn earlier than they tackle the Sydney Swans, Geelong Cats and Melbourne Demons in successive weeks.
Source: www.news.com.au
