THE Western Bulldogs have recorded the perfect start to the season on a tough trip west with a comfortable 63-point win over Fremantle at Subiaco Oval on Sunday.

The Bulldogs weren’t far off the premiership decider in 2008 after a preliminary final appearance and even without Robert Murphy the 25.7 (157) to 13.16 (94) win shows they are capable of another strong season.

The biggest difference between the sides was in skill level. While Fremantle constantly turned the ball over, the Bulldogs made them pay, and used possession beautifully on the whole to start the season in fine fashion.

The visitors were on top for most of the game, but eight goals to one in the last term ensured the win was emphatic.

Ryan Griffen set up the Dogs in the opening quarter with three goals and a scoring assist and, while he was relatively well held to just 23 possessions, he set the example for his team.

Mitch Hahn proved the best forward on the ground with five goals from seven kicks.

Matthew Boyd was brilliant in the middle with 34 possessions and Lindsay Gilbee improved as the game went on with 32 touches and three goals.

Daniel Giansiracusa rattled up 28 possessions and two goals, Shaun Higgins 29 and two goals, Daniel Cross had 29 touches, Ryan Hargrave 28 and Nathan Eagleton 20 and three goals.

Dale Morris also had the better of his battle with Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich.

Coming west for the opening round was always going to be tough task and it looked even more daunting once Fremantle booted the opening two majors inside three minutes.

However, the Dogs hit back hard with the next five goals to open up a 16-point advantage. Griffen was outstanding with two of those and Adam Cooney snared a brilliant running goal after baulking a bewildered Marcus Drum.

Brett Peake then kicked consecutive six pointers for Fremantle, but Griffen's third ensured a nine-point advantage at the first change.

Boyd and Gilbee both kicked early goals in the second to put the Bulldogs 22 points up before Fremantle hit back to get within 10 after back-to-back goals from Michael Johnson.

It would be the home side's final goal for 22 minutes, as the Dogs took full control, and made Fremantle pay for some terrible errors across half back.

A first to Akermanis, another to Gilbee, two to Higgins and one to Cross within 17-minutes gave the Bulldogs a 41-point advantage. A late Pavlich goal made the margin at the long break 35 points.

The breeze picked up over half time and Fremantle had the advantage of it in the third quarter but Hahn booted his second early. A bomb from Eagleton into the wind then had the Dogs back up by 31 after a brief Fremantle surge.

Freo did kick three more before three quarter-time, but Gilbee managed his third and Giansiracusa his first after another terrible turnover to still be up by 22 points at the last change.

Fremantle's Paul Hasleby and Josh Head missed set shots on goal early in the last quarter and Akermanis made the most of a free kick in front at the other end to sting the home team.

Hahn then caught Paul Duffield holding the ball straight in front for his third goal and that appeared to flatten the home side as Giansiracusa and Eagleton also added to their tallies.

Fremantle got a goal back but Callan Ward added another either side of Hahn's fourth and fifth to set up the 63-point win.

The Bulldogs return home to take on North Melbourne next week at the MCG on Sunday.

Best
Fremantle: Paul Duffield, Brett Peake, Paul Hasleby, Chris Tarrant, Steven Dodd, Rhys Palmer
Western Bulldogs: Matthew Boyd, Lindsay Gilbee, Daniel Giansiracusa, Ryan Griffen, Daniel Cross, Shaun Higgins, Mitch Hahn

Injuries
Fremantle: Roger Hayden replaced in selected side by Marcus Drum
Western Bulldogs: Robert Murphyreplaced in selected side by Tom Williams

Reports: Nil
Umpires: James, Stevic, Keating
Official crowd: 33,634 at Subiaco Oval