AFL Round 1

Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne 
Saturday 15 March | 7:35pm AEDT 
Marvel Stadium, Docklands • Wurundjeri 
Broadcast: Kayo / Foxtel 

Tickets: Purchase here

Upgrade to Level 1 seats behind the goals for just $30! - Purchase here and use the code BULLDOGS2025 to unlock this offer

The Western Bulldogs kick off their 2025 season with a Saturday night home game against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

Before the game, visit the Fan Zone outside Gate 7 for giveaways, inflatables, badge making, and more!

Love the Game, Not the Odds is the official match day partner for Round 1. It's Australia's longest-running initiative against sports gambling, and has partnered with the Bulldogs since 2016.

NEED HELP ON MATCH DAY? 

The Bulldogs’ membership team will be at the match-day pavilion near Gate 1 (Barkly Street end). 

To contact us before match day:

• 📆 Monday – Friday, 10 AM – 4 PM
• 📧 membership@westernbulldogs.com.au
• 📞 1300 46 36 47

The Western Bulldogs have named an unchanged line-up for Sunday’s clash with the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium.

After a 16-point win against Collingwood to start the 2021 season, the Bulldogs will back in the same starting 22.

Opening round debutants Anthony Scott and Lachie McNeil have held their spots.

Both teams started the season with a win – with the Eagles coming off a 25-point win on Sunday against the Gold Coast Suns at Optus Stadium.

The Bulldogs will have two individual milestones to acknowledge.

BUY TICKETS | Secure your seat at Sunday’s Bulldogs v Eagles clash via Ticketmaster.

Gun midfielder Tom Liberatore will play his 150^th AFL match in red, white and blue.

The father-son draftee joined the Bulldogs in the 2010 draft and made his AFL debut in round one of 2011.

Liberatore’s decorated career includes claiming the Charles Sutton Medal in 2014 and, of course, being part of the 2016 premiership side.

Key defender Alex Keath will also play his 50^th AFL game. 

The 29-year-old played 30 games for the Adelaide Crows, and hasn’t missed a game since joining the Bulldogs before the 2020 season.

Channel 7 will broadcast the game live, with the first bounce at 3.20pm.

ROUND 2 TEAM

Western Bulldogs v West Coast Eagles
Sunday 28 March, 3.20pm AEDT
Marvel Stadium

B: Bailey Williams, Ryan Gardner, Caleb Daniel
HB: Taylor Duryea, Alex Keath, Adam Treloar
C: Pat Lipinski, Bailey Smith, Lachie Hunter
HF: Bailey Dale, Aaron Naughton, Josh Dunkley
F: Tim English, Josh Bruce, Marcus Bontempelli
R: Stefan Martin, Jack Macrae, Tom Liberatore
Int: Mitch Wallis, Laitham Vandermeer, Anthony Scott, Lachie McNeil
Emer: Lewis Young, Rhylee West, Jason Johannisen, Lin Jong

Marcus Bontempelli has done it again.

Leading by a golden point against the West Coast Eagles late on Sunday afternoon, a captain’s goal – making it his third of the day – couldn’t have come at a better time in the Western Bulldogs' 14.16 (100) to 14.9 (93) triumph.

Playing in front of fans at Marvel Stadium for the first time in over 600 days, the Bulldogs turned around a 12-point deficit at the final break to record the gutsy come-from-behind win.  

The hosts had majority of possession early but struggled to convert on the scoreboard, leading by the slimmest of margins at the first break.

Inaccuracy plagued the Bulldogs in the second, kicking 3.7 for the term, but managed to hold off a fast-finishing Eagles outfit in the second half.

Scores were level twice late in the final term - with neither side willing to accept defeat just yet. 

The skipper was prolific, finishing the day with 30 touches, six marks and seven inside-50s to go with his three goals, while ball magnet Jack Macrae (41) and reigning Club champion Caleb Daniel (26) found plenty of the footy.

Josh Bruce and Aaron Naughton both finished with a trio of goals each, while a late major from Laith Vandermeer helped the hosts stay within arm’s reach.

In defence, Bailey Williams was crucial to the Dogs holding on late, and Adam Treloar stepped up in the final quarter with nine disposals from more time inside the centre square.

150-gamer Tom Liberatore (26, five tackles) was impactful early, while 50-gamer Alex Keath stood tall.

The Western Bulldogs will have a five-day break before returning to Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon, for the Good Friday Appeal 'Kick for the Kids' match against North Melbourne.

WESTERN BULLDOGS                     3.3      6.10       9.12     14.16 (100)
WEST COAST                                    3.2     6.3         12.6     14.9   (93)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Bruce 3, Bontempelli 3, Naughton 3, Daniel, Dunkley, English, Smith, Vandermeer
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Darling 3, Jones 3, Allen 2, Ryan 2

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Macrae, Daniel, Dunkley, Treloar, Naughton
West Coast: Naitanui, Sheed, Kelly, Kennedy, Hurn, Darling

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
West Coast: Allen (shoulder), Naitanui (eye)