AFL Round 8

Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide
Saturday 3 May | 1:20pm AEST
Mars Stadium, Ballarat • Wadawurrung
Broadcast: Kayo/Foxtel

Ticketing Information

Tickets for the 2025 AFL Round 8 Match between Western Bulldogs v Port Adelaide on Saturday, May 3 at Mars Stadium are now exhausted.

This match is a fully ticketed event and should further tickets become available, they will be released via Ticketmaster on a date to be announced.

Ballarat Reserved Seat Members can still use their season barcode to redeem a ticket.

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

When and where: Sunday 5 May, 4pm AEST, Marvel Stadium (Wurundjeri)
Broadcast: Fox Footy/Kayo
Head-to-head: Played 168 (won 81, drawn twice, lost 85)
Last time we met: Round 22 2023, WB 9.10 (64) def. by Hawthorn 9.13 (67)

Secure your tickets today: BUY NOW

Unleash more in ’24 with a Bulldogs membership: SIGN UP TODAY

What it means

The Bulldogs will be keen to make amends and square the ledger after a disappointing loss to Fremantle, but will still need to be at their best against the 17^th-placed Hawks, who’s ladder positioning probably doesn’t accurately reflect their ability in games. Hawthorn surged late to give the Pies a scare in Gather Round, and comfortably accounted for North Melbourne in Round 6 after a neck-and-neck opening term. Coming off a 76-point loss to Sydney will likely see the Hawks looking to respond – which is what the Dogs have dealt with before this past month, despite handling it better in some games more than others.

Who to watch

Bailey Dale has been one of the Bulldogs’ most consistent players this past fortnight, earning a collective 14 coaches’ votes for his impact against both St Kilda and Fremantle. The 27-year-old’s run across half-back helped the Dogs surge forward on a number of occasions in both those outings, and will be keen to continue influencing games as he has been.

Kidzmania returns

Kids are set to take this Sunday’s match-day, which promises to be an afternoon of fun for the whole family as we celebrate our youngest fans. With more giveaways, more entertainment, more activities and more Bulldogs fun, there’ll be plenty on offer for the whole family. Check out what’s on around the ground in our game-day guide, or Kidzmania hub.

Dual decision for match committee

This week’s match committee will need to consider replacements for small forwards Cody Weightman and Rhylee West, who will be forced out of the team through injury and suspension. Vice-captain Tom Liberatore is a test to return from illness but isn’t exactly a like-for-like swap, so the Dogs will need to move around some magnets if he comes back into the line-up. Caleb Daniel (last week’s substitute), Ryley Sanders (36 disposals in the VFL) and Lachie McNeil are all options, as are Caleb Poulter, Oskar Baker and Anthony Scott who have already been tried in various roles across their time.

Back at home

After travelling to Perth last weekend, the Bulldogs will be buoyed by a return to Marvel Stadium on Sunday. The Dogs have won the last two meetings under the roof, with a home crowd filled with the red, white and blue faithful an added bonus as they look to get back on the winner’s list. 

Three chances against the Hawks

Start your Sunday at Mission Whitten Oval to see the VFL Bulldogs take on Box Hill from 11.05am. Following this, the VFLW Bulldogs will also play Box Hill from 2.30pm at Whitten, before the AFL team does battle from 4pm at Marvel Stadium. Merchandise will also be available from the Match Day Pavilion during the VFL game, trading from gates open until the start of the third quarter. Can the Dogs complete the Hawks trifecta on Sunday?

The Western Bulldogs have fallen to Hawthorn by seven points at Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing by just eight points heading into the final term, a flurry of goals got the hosts back within striking distance late.

But the Hawks were quick to respond, sealing the 14.7 (91) to 14.14 (98) result in the dying seconds.

The match started off with a bang – the Dogs booting three quick goals in succession, before the visitors slowly closed the deficit.

A one-goal to three second quarter meant the Bulldogs were chasing an eight-point advantage, and to their credit came out firing after half-time.

But again the Hawks were able to arrest momentum when it mattered most, keeping that buffer in their favour.

Ultimately left to lick their wounds, the Dogs did outscore the Hawks by 45 points from stoppages – their fourth-best total since the start of 2021.

Skipper Marcus Bontempelli did what he could to will his side forward, finishing with 26 disposals, five tackles, two goals and 11 score involvements.

Adam Treloar was also impactful, with 33 touches, seven tackles and nine clearances, as was Bailey Dale (29 touches, eight marks, 691 metres gained) and Tim English (18 touches, nine marks, two goals, 31 hit-outs).

The Bulldogs will look to reset and go again next weekend, with a Saturday night meeting against Richmond at the MCG awaiting.

WESTERN BULLDOGS  5.1    6.3    8.7    14.7 (91)
HAWTHORN                 4.2    7.5    9.9    14.14 (98)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer 2, Naughton 2, Williams 2, Bontempelli 2, English 2, Ugle-Hagan 2, Richards, Darcy,
Hawthorn: Macdonald 3, Gunston 2, Dear 2, Weddle, Ward, Newcombe, Moore, Meek, Sicily, Ginnivan

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, English, Dale, Treloar, Harmes, Richards
Hawthorn: Sicily, Impey, Meek, Nash, Moore, Newcombe

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Hawthorn: Sicily (shoulder)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Oskar Baker, replaced Charlie Clarke in the third quarter
Hawthorn: Nick Watson, replaced Cam Mackenzie in the third quarter

Crowd: 29,555 at Marvel Stadium