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Live AFL Scores: Fremantle Dockers take on Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium

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Aaron KirbyThe West Australian
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Luke Jackson.
Camera IconLuke Jackson. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Fremantle are hoping to continue their winning ways against Western Bulldogs who are sitting eighth and trying to avoid playing a wild card final.

Hayden Young returns for the contest in place of Corey Wagner who picked up an injury during the week while the Dogs are without Aaron Naughton and Cody Weightman up forward.

But can the visitors find their bite or will it be all bark?

Follow all the action from Optus Stadium with our live blog.

Reporting LIVE

Pace, real pace

The Dockers are going to need to find a new gear of speed to try and bypass the Dogs parking the bus in defence.

The benefit for the men in purple with so many Bulldogs inside the defensive 50 is they have more margin for error up ground.

So they need to use it with bold kicks and linking chains.

FRE 30, WB 30

Voss hot

Pat Voss has been hot under the collar tonight and started an interesting melee in the second term.

HT: Fremantle 29, Western Bulldogs 29

As the Eagles did last week, the Dogs are just hanging around with Fremantle.

Beveridge has a clear defensive plan and it’s doing enough to slow the Dockers and allow them to counter every now and then.

The visitors don’t look overly dangerous but they are executing the plan well and getting goals at important times.

Liberatore has been huge in the clinches and refuses to take a backwards step from the Dockers’ star-studded centre line.

Ryan had a big term for the Dockers but wasn’t able to launch many incisive attacks.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Cooper Hynes of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal during the round 21 AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, on July 31, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos)
Camera IconCooper Hynes of the Bulldogs celebrates a goal. Credit: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Tied!

Lobb copped a ton of boos from his former fans after getting a mark but he made the set shot look easy.

It levels the scores and Justin Longmuir will not be pleased with his side in the last five minutes.

They’ve allowed the Dogs to escape after setting up strong opportunities to attack.

FRE 29, WB 29

Frustrating

The Dockers are trying to get their game rolling but missed shots and a clingy Western Bulldogs are annoying them.

Between the arcs they look great, pushing and pulling the Dogs apart to create space.

However, the visitors are holding their shape and getting extras into defensive 50 so all that moving isn’t helping the Dockers with end product.

FRE 23, WB 17

Young gun

Cooper Hynes had a Rising Star nomination not that long ago and he is on fire to start tonight.

He’s had 13 touches and slots his second goal to fustrate the Dockers who are trying to get rolling.

FRE 16, WB 15

Found ‘em

Third times the charm for Treacy!

He gets another uncontested grab on a sharp lead and this time has no trouble dead in front, 40 metres out.

The Dockers are wearing the Dogs down who are pure defence at the moment.

FRE 16, WB 9

Give us a hand

Pearce has wounded his hand in a marking contest going back with the flight but after a quick check from the medico he looks fine.

Potentially the nail has moved.

Meanwhile, Treacy has missed another set shot and we remain goalless in the second term.

FRE 10, WB 9

QT: Fremantle 9, Western Bulldogs 8

There was not much to write about in that first term with both teams content to probe and just not give anything away.

Fremantle were the far more dangerous side though, forcing the Dogs to defend to the last line whenever they entered the forward half.

Williams and Liberatore lead the possession-getters with eight while Worner is the Dockers’ leader with seven disposals.

The Dogs only managed six inside 50s for the term despite only being behind by two in the clearance numbers but a late goal keeps them well and truly in the contest.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 31: Arthur Jones of the Bulldogs tackles Karl Worner of the Dockers during the round 21 AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium, on July 31, 2026, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images via AFL Photos)
Camera IconArthur Jones of the Bulldogs tackles Karl Worner of the Dockers. Credit: Paul Kane/Getty Images

From small to big!

Dudley wins the high contact free kick in the forward 50 but his set shot from the boundary is terrible.

But it doesn’t matter when Jackson is lingering.

The big fella taps the contested mark in the air and then pulls it in on the way down.

He dobs the set shot from 20 metres out and we finally have a major on the board.

FRE 9, WB 1

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