The Western Bulldogs have gone down to Fremantle by 24 points at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite trailing by just five points at the final change, it was the hosts who were able to arrest momentum when it mattered most - kicking the final three goals to seal a 14.11 (95) to 10.11 (71) win. 

Luke Beveridge expected Fremantle to come out "breathing fire" after its dispiriting Derby loss in round six, and his instincts were right early as James Aish, Josh Treacy and Pat Voss laid big tackles and the Dockers kicked two quick goals. 

Players appeared to struggle with the Optus Stadium surface and were slipping over frequently, but the Bulldogs were able to steady and kick back-to-back goals through Aaron Naughton and Tim English.  

00:27

Dogs bite back with Naughton’s nifty step and dribbler

Aaron Naughton conjures a crafty kick to bring his side right back in the first term

A strong contested mark and typically accurate set shot after the siren gave the Dockers an eight-point lead at the first break and some reward for their midfield ascendency. 

Challenges came for both teams as Freo key defender Josh Draper was substituted with a hamstring injury and Bulldogs forward Cody Weightman succumbed to an elbow issue, landing awkwardly in an aerial contest and leaving the ground with trainers.

01:33

Liam Jones | 'A lot to learn from that'

Jonesy chats following the loss to Fremantle

Bailey Dale, who was brilliant throughout for the Bulldogs, continued to lift and pushed forward to kick two goals in the second term, including a brilliant set shot from a tight angle that cut the half-time margin to just three points. 

The margin never stretched beyond the 12 points it sat at halfway through the third quarter when Fyfe plucked the ball off Bulldogs interceptor Buku Khamis and snapped his second goal of the season. 

With the Dockers' backline undersized after the loss of Draper, however, Sam Darcy emerged as the dangerman and kicked two goals from contested marks. If Marcus Bontempelli had converted from 15m out, the Bulldogs would have had a lead going into the tense finale.

Dale finished his night with 30 touches, nine marks and the two goals, while Adam Treloar (29 disposals, nine clearances) and Bontempelli (27 disposals, five marks, five clearances) battled in the middle.

00:51

Young gun Darcy doing it all for Dogs in towering term

Sam Darcy catches fire at the right time for the Bulldogs with two crucial marks and goals

Tim English was impactful with 23 disposals, six tackles, seven marks, one goal and 28 hit-outs, as was Darcy (13 disposals, seven marks, three goals) and Ed Richards (23 disposals, four marks). 

The Bulldogs will look to reset and return to the winner's list when they host Hawthorn next Sunday in the return of Kidzmania at Marvel Stadium.

FREMANTLE                       4.4   7.6   10.9   14.11 (95)  
WESTERN BULLDOGS      3.2   7.3   9.10   10.11 (71)   

GOALS 
Fremantle: Treacy 3, Banfield 3, Frederick 2, Jackson 2, Fyfe, Voss, Walters, Young 
Western Bulldogs: Darcy 3, Dale 2, Naughton 2, English, Vandermeer, West 

BEST
Fremantle: Serong, Fyfe, Pearce, Treacy, Aish, Brayshaw, Young
Western Bulldogs: Dale, Darcy, Treloar, Jones, Richards, English  

INJURIES
Fremantle: Draper (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Weightman (elbow)  

LATE CHANGES 
Fremantle: Nil 
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore (illness) replaced in the selected side by Caleb Daniel 

SUBSTITUTES
Fremantle: Cooper Simpson (replaced Josh Draper at quarter time) 
Western Bulldogs: Caleb Daniel (replaced Cody Weightman in the second quarter)  

Crowd: 45,931 at Optus Stadium