The Western Bulldogs have squared the ledger with a commanding 49-point win over Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Friday night.

Launching the ANZAC Appeal Round in front of a record crowd, only accuracy in front of goal prevented the Dogs from recording a much greater advantage in the 10.9 (69) to 17.16 (118) affair.

Following six behinds in the opening quarter, the Bulldogs didn’t get their first major on the board until 19 minutes into the game - with none other than skipper Marcus Bontempelli plucking it out of the pack and converting.

Anthony Scott set the tone early with his chase-down tackle on Alex Pearce in the goal-square, resulting in a free kick and goal, before West Aussie Aaron Naughton got involved too.

Fremantle pressed in the second term as momentum shifted in the hosts’ favour, but the Dogs steadied both around the contest and on the scoreboard.

Taking a 19-point buffer into the main break, the Bulldogs continued to control the third before storming home five goals to one in the last to seal the victory.

In what was otherwise a well-rounded team performance, Bontempelli was prolific – collecting 31 touches, 10 tackles, six marks, eight clearances and two goals to go with 528 metres gained.

Naughton finished with three goals from four marks, while Rory Lobb silenced his former fan-base with one goal, 12 disposals and six marks.

Bailey Williams enjoyed a career-best three goals, with Adam Treloar (35 possessions, four clearances, two goals) also impacting inside 50.

Tim English was strong in the ruck, recording 34 hit-outs and 20 touches, while Caleb Daniel (22 disposals, four tackles, one goal), Liam Jones (16 disposals, seven marks), Jason Johannisen and Oskar Baker were important.

Toby McLean celebrated game 100, before being subbed off for Lachie McNeil midway through the fourth.

The Bulldogs will next meet Hawthorn in a home match at Marvel Stadium on Saturday April 22.

FREMANTLE                                3.1    6.2    9.6      10.9 (69)
WESTERN BULLDOGS                 3.7    8.9    12.11   17.16 (118)

GOALS
Fremantle: Sturt 2, Frederick 2, Amiss, Darcy, Jackson, O'Meara, Schultz, Walters  
Western Bulldogs: Williams 3, Naughton 3, Treloar 2, Bontempelli 2, Daniel, English, Liberatore, Lobb, McNeil, Scott, Weightman

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Darcy, Frederick, Brodie, Clark  
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Treloar, Williams, English, Macrae, Ugle-Hagan, Liberatore

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Josh Corbett (replaced Jye Amiss in the third quarter)
Western Bulldogs: Lachlan McNeil (replaced Toby McLean in the fourth quarter)

Crowd: 47,503 at Optus Stadium