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: Saturday 26 April
Where: Manuka Oval, Canberra (Ngunnawal/Ngambri) 
First bounce: 7:35pm AEST
Broadcast: Fox Footy, Kayo Sports

Don’t just witness history. Be part of it: Sign up as a Bulldogs member TODAY. 

Already a member? After the game, look out for two member-exclusive pieces of content from the coaches. Stay across your email and the Club website to access.

Dogs fans are always welcome at Pirate Life’s venue in South Melbourne. Members receive 2-for-1 South Coast schooners every Bulldogs’ game day, as well as 10% off everything all day, every day. Just present your Bulldogs’ membership card to take advantage of this offer!

LAST MEETING

Round 24, 2024, Mars Stadium
Western Bulldogs 14.14 (98) def. 9.7 (61)

Ed Richards (29 disposals, 556 metres gained) ignited the Bulldogs from half-back in a dominant team display at Mars Stadium, as they overran the Giants to secure a finals berth in style. Bailey Dale (27 disposals, 569 metres gained) provided pinpoint delivery all day, while Adam Treloar (24 disposals, six clearances) and Tom Liberatore (24 disposals, nine clearances and a goal) were crucial in the midfield battle.

Marcus Bontempelli (22 disposals, seven tackles and a goal) led with trademark composure, as Cody Weightman, Sam Darcy and Richards each hit the scoreboard. Tim English made a standout return with 18 hitouts, controlling the ruck and setting up first possession. The Bulldogs’ ball movement was clean, their pressure relentless, and their statement emphatic, in what was a finals-deciding match.

THE LINE-UP

Ins: Jedd Busslinger, Laith Vandermeer, James Harmes
Outs: Sam Darcy (knee), Lachie McNeil (hamstring), Liam Jones (omitted)
New: Jedd Busslinger (debut)

GWS GIANTS v Western Bulldogs

Round 7 • Sat 26 Apr 2025, 9:35 AM

Corroboree Group Manuka Oval, Canberra • ACT

Presented By

Mimosa Homes

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Last Updated 10:03 pm Monday, April 28, 2025

WHO TO WATCH

Aaron Naughton will run out for his 150th career game this weekend, and with Sam Darcy sidelined, the spotlight shifts to Naughton as the Bulldogs’ key target inside 50. Known for his contested marking and forward presence, the high-flying forward will be central to the Dogs’ structure.

In last week’s win, Naughton slotted three goals from 12 disposals and took seven strong marks, proving that he doesn’t need a high output to have high impact. And, with two goals, 10 disposals and six kicks against GWS last year, the Dogs will look to Naughton to lead the line and spark scoreboard pressure early. This milestone outing is a chance for Naughton to stamp his authority and deliver in a game that could spark the Bulldogs’ momentum.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

• Martin Pegan, afl.com.au

Greater Western Sydney (4-2) missed an opportunity to cement its place among the frontrunners as it failed to chase down Adelaide in a low-scoring contest last week. The Giants should get a boost from meeting their old rivals back on their home deck in Canberra for the first time this season and at a venue where they are rebuilding a fortress after winning on their past four visits.

Western Bulldogs (3-3) could hardly have been more impressive as they brushed aside St Kilda for a percentage-boosting victory last week. The Dogs are still to show that they can play with consistency as they chase back-to-back wins for the first time this year, though should be bolstered by taking on their old foes the Giants who they have beaten in seven of their past eight matches.

The Western Bulldogs claimed a big scalp on Saturday night, defeating Greater Western Sydney 17.11 (113) to 12.9 (81) at Corroboree Group Manuka Oval.

Luke Beveridge's side flexed their muscles with five unanswered goals in the third quarter to set up a 17.11 (113) to 12.9 (81) victory at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Saturday night.

The Bulldogs (4-3) move into seventh place on the ladder ahead of Sunday's matches, having defeated the Giants in eight of their nine meetings since 2020.

James Harmes impressed in his recall with a game-high four-goal haul, while captain Marcus Bontempelli had his usual influence before being managed out in the final term.

Joel Freijah also starred with 27 disposals, nine clearances and 19 contested possessions after recovering from a hit to the head in the third quarter.

The second term was a see-sawing affair, with the Bulldogs soaring to lead by 13 points, before Hogan and Toby Bedford levelled the scores at 7.5 (47).

Giants skipper Toby Greene (two goals) could only give his side a one-point lead when his soccer kick hit the post.

And the lead was short-lived, with Tim English slotting a major after the siren thanks to a rucking infringement by Giants counterpart Kieren Briggs.

The Bulldogs emphatically shut out their opponents from the contest to kick 5.3 to 0.1 in the third quarter, and reached a game-high 52-point lead on their way to victory.

Bulldogs debutant Jedd Busslinger, replacing an omitted Liam Jones, provided an early highlight in the opening term when he denied Darcy Jones’ left-foot snap at goal with a mark on the line.

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY   3.3    7.6     7.7     11.8 (81)
WESTERN BULLDOGS               2.3    8.5   13.8    17.11 (113)

GOALS
Greater Western Sydney: Ricardi 3, Greene 2, Bedford 2, Hogan 2, Thomas, Green, Cadman
Western Bulldogs: Harmes 4, West 3, Lobb 2, Kennedy 2, Richards, Khamis, Johannisen, English, Naughton, Davidson

BEST
Greater Western Sydney: Whitfield, Callahan, Buckley, Ash, Kelly
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Liberatore, Kennedy, Freijah, Harmes, Dale

INJURIES
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
Western Bulldogs: TBC

SUBSTITUTES
Greater Western Sydney: Callan Ward, replaced Xavier O'Halloran in the third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Cooper Hynes, replaced Marcus Bontempelli in the fourth quarter

Crowd: TBC at Manuka Oval