The Western Bulldogs’ season has come to a halt in disappointing fashion, falling to the Fremantle Dockers in the Elimination Final by 13 points at Optus Stadium.

The Bulldogs shot out to a 41-point lead late in the second term, which was built in a brilliant display in the first 50 minutes of the game.

But a 10-minute burst from Fremantle leading into half time, which netted four goals, brought the home side back into the contest and ultimately paved the way for an eventual 54-point swing.

00:41

Bit of Bontempelli brilliance opens show in style

Marcus Bontempelli snares the first goal of the game with a typically superb finish

The Dogs still held a 15-point lead at the main break, and edged further ahead with the first major of the third stanza, but the Dockers kicked the next three to reduce the margin to six points at three-quarter time.

The visitors were unable to halt the momentum as the raucous Perth crowd found its full voice, with Fremantle booting the first three majors of the final term to effectively kill the contest.

Roarke Smith offered a moment of resistance with a huge grab and set shot goal midway through the quarter to bring the margin back to five points, but Nathan O’Driscoll converted a set shot from the boundary shortly after and the Dockers held on.

07:51

Highlights | Elimination Final

Watch all the highlights from the elimination final against Fremantle

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs had plenty of winners across the park, particularly in the midfield through Marcus Bontempelli (30 disposals, two goals and seven tackles), Jack Macrae (34 possessions) Josh Dunkley (23 touches and 14 tackles) and Adam Treloar (26 disposals).

Ryan Gardner was impressive in defence, along with Caleb Daniel (29 possessions and seven rebound 50s), while Toby McLean made a triumphant return to senior football with 21 disposals.

But in the end, it wasn’t enough to keep the Bulldogs’ season alive into week two of the 2022 finals.

MATCH DETAILS
FREMANTLE                       0.1      4.3      7.5      11.7 (73)
WESTERN BULLDOGS       5.5      6.6      7.11     8.12 (60)

GOALS
FREMANTLE:  Walters 3, Lobb 2, Amiss 2, Brayshaw, Serong, Logue, O’Driscoll
WESTERN BULLDOGS:  Bontempelli 2, Johannisen 2, Darcy, Weightman, Dunkley, R Smith

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Brayshaw, Walters, Young, Ryan, Clark, Darcy
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Macrae, Gardner, Dunkley, Treloar, Daniel, McLean

INJURIES
Fremantle: O'Driscoll (left ankle)
Western Bulldogs: Johannisen (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Bailey Banfield (unused)
Western Bulldogs: Robbie McComb (replaced Jason Johannisen in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 58,982 at Optus Stadium