HIGH-flying Western Bulldogs recruit Zephaniah Skinner has led his side to a 30-point win over Fremantle with a four-goal effort in their NAB Challenge clash at Bunbury's Hands Oval.

The Dogs won 14.14 (98) to 9.14 (68) in a game that saw 22 of the 23 goals scored at one end of the ground because of a howling gale. 

They were without a host of senior players including captain Matthew Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, Shaun Higgins, Lindsay Gilbee, Justin Sherman, Tom Williams, Jarrad Grant, Liam Picken and Barry Hall.

Daniel Cross led the side, while Fremantle was captained by Chris Mayne in the absence of Matthew Pavlich, who was rested.

The influential wind enabled Fremantle to get the early jump and push out to a 34-point lead by quarter time with the Bulldogs managing just three behinds for the first term.

The Dogs then piled on 7.8 to Fremantle's one goal in the second quarter to lead by 10 points at the main break.

Rodney Eade's men failed to score in the third quarter while Mark Harvey's charges kicked three goals to take a 13-point lead into the last break.

The Dogs steadied to kick seven goals to Fremantle's two behinds in the final quarter as they ran out comfortable five-goal winners.

Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said his players adapted well to the warm and windy conditions, particularly some of the club's up and comers.

"The breeze played a significant part in the game - it was probably a four- or five-goal breeze," he said.

"Skinner was pleasing because apart from kicking some goals his movement was really terrific.

"Josh Hill was able to play at both ends of the ground and played a pretty good game, and there were some good performances with the likes of Brennan Stack playing in a defensive role and in the second half he did a really good job on [Hayden] Ballantyne and gave us run out of defence."

Robert Murphy also played well against Ryan Crowley in his first game for the year while Sam Reid - who is returning from shoulder surgery - had a physical hit-out but emerged unscathed.

Ballantyne came on at half time for his first game since suffering a foot fracture on the eve of last year's finals, and although a little rusty, got through without issue.

Fremantle rotated four interchange players while the Dogs utilised their whole bench in an attempt to replicate what sides will face when the premiership season begins and the three bench players plus one substitute law begins.

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said the fact his side rotated less players than the Bulldogs made a significant difference and was one of the reasons it fell behind.

"Effectively we've all got to come back to three [on the bench] and one [substitute], and it will be interesting to see and summarise games when that happens."

He also said Fremantle would aim to get its full side on the park for next weekend's final NAB Challenge match with Pavlich, David Mundy and Stephen Hill to come in.

"Now it's about getting to see your team playing together now, and we will be somewhere next week near our round one team," he said.

"That's when you start to judge us."

FREMANTLE                         5.7 6.7 9.12 9.14 (68)
WESTERN BULLDOGS        0.3 7.11 7.11 14.14 (98)

GOALS
Fremantle: Crowley 3, Palmer 2, Sandilands, McPhee, Bradley, Johnson
Western Bulldogs: Skinner 4, Hill 2, Tutt 2, Howard, Veszpremi, Hahn, Jones, Hooper, Minson

BEST
Fremantle: Sandilands, Suban, Crowley, Palmer, Mzungu, Johnson, Fife
Western Bulldogs: Skinner, Stack, Moles, Hill, Wallis, Cross, Addison, Tutt

INJURIES
Fremantle: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Nil
 
Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Stewart, Dalgleish

Crowd: 4000 (est.) at Hands Oval in Bunbury