AFL live updates: Fremantle Dockers aim for seventh heaven as Western Bulldogs welcome back big guns

Bulldogs are flooding numbers back to help out their undersized defence with Tim English taking several interceptions.

Brennan Cox with a quick kick inside 50 and Switta is front and square of the contest to pick off the spoil and get the Dockers on the board.

Josh Treacy is gang tackled to be caught holding the ball in the forward half.

The Bulldogs bring the heat to force repeat entries inside 50 and while it’s not pretty Will Lewis gets seperation from Alex Pearce to kick their second.

WB 2.0 (12) FRE 0.0

From the opening centre ball-up, Bont picks off the attempted handball from Coret Wagner before Arty Jones spins through a couple of attempted tackles to get the ball back to Bont.

There’s eight handballs all under pressure before Ed Richards finally kicks to deliver a bouncing goal.

“I still don’t think our games are in great shape, we’ve got to make sure we can win the contest and get the ball to the outside,” he tells Seven.

“We’ve got a couple of stoppage roles, we’ve got in mind, but we don’t want to get to reactive around the contest.”

Seven have run a package with Murphy Reid reflecting on his incredible four goal burst on debut.

Dockers forward coach Jaymie Graham told The West Australian how Reid has skills you just can’t teach.

“It is a pivotal duel, our stability around the stoppage has been ok but I think our mids have been on tenderhooks a bit and a bit reactive,” he says on Seven.

“So hopefully Tim being back gets them on the move a bit.”

“Our backline will be undersized tonight so the aerial side of the game is going to be huge challenge for us but hopefully it’s geared towards giving us better ball use.”

The last three times Bontempelli has faced the Dockers at Marvel, he’s been the best player on the ground.

He’s gathered three Brownlow votes and had 30-plus disposals with multiple goals from each of the last three meetings.

The Dockers will only travel to Melbourne four times during the home and away season, and Seven analyst Matthew Richardson says it’s a great opportunity for the Dockers to ‘validate’ their premiership credentials.

It’s his first game back since being delisted by Collingwood.

“It’s a bit weird being back being a tourist, it’s been a massive part of my life and a night like tonight with the roof open it’s a great opportunity,” he tells Abbey Holmes.

“It’s been a really great experience so far at Fremantle, they’ve welcomed me in with open arms.

“Jackson is an absolute freak, he’s just a natural athlete that can move away around the ground and it’s exciting to play next two.

“Shai Bolton is a good player but I got to give a shout out to Isaiah Dudley he’s on the opposite side of the height spectrum, but he always brings his best.

Both sides will go in as named at this stage.

Pat Voss returns after his illness last week while the Bulldogs have SIX changes from their team that got smashed last week, including a return for Tim English.

Here’s a reminder of how they line up.

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