Bontempelli leads by example as Bulldogs maul Dockers
Marcus Bontempelli has shrugged off illness and produced another masterful display to lead the Western Bulldogs to a 67-point hammering of Fremantle.
In doubt to play during the build-up, Bontempelli assumed his regular role in the Bulldogs' engine room and starred in the 23.11 (149) to 12.10 (82) victory at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The inspirational skipper finished with 30 disposals, seven clearances, three goal assists and three majors of his own as the Dogs claimed a top-eight scalp to square their ledger at 7-7 in pursuit of a finals berth.
Fellow on-ballers Tom Liberatore (28 disposals, nine clearances), Adam Treloar (27, five) and Ed Richards (21 touches, one goal) were also strong contributors in a dominant midfield unit.
Bontempelli's second goal was one of the best of the season, when he beat experienced Dockers backs Alex Pearce and Luke Ryan in a contest and snapped truly to bring Dogs fans in the 21,796-strong crowd to their feet.
Marcus Bontempelli beat Alex Pearce (left) and Luke Ryan to kick a goal-of-the-year contender. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
"He did some really special things, Marcus," Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
"The goal that he kicked just before halftime ... we talk about the little things in footy, but there's no replacement for brilliance and team-lifting stuff.
"We had a lot of of inspiring examples throughout the course of the game, but that's one thing that epitomises what he does and the strength in his game.
"It was an influential game from him after he was pretty crook. Like the rest of that midfield brigade, he set a really strong example."
Cody Weightman (three goals) and Richards shone on return from injuries, and Rhylee West celebrated his 50-game milestone with a career-best four goals.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (three), Rory Lobb (three) Harvey Gallagher (two) and Tim English (two) also kicked multiple goals as the Bulldogs posted their highest score of the season.
Rhylee West (centre) kicked a career-best four goals in his 50th game for the Western Bulldogs. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
Fremantle had boasted the competition's tightest defence, but coughed up the biggest tally of Justin Longmuir's five years as coach in their heaviest defeat of the season.
A dirty day will likely get worse when the full extent of Michael Walters' right hamstring injury becomes known, after the veteran forward limped off during the second term.
Hayden Young (26 disposals, six clearances) and Caleb Serong (28, nine) fought hard against the tide, while Bailey Banfield and Sam Sturt kicked three goals each.
Fremantle kicked four consecutive goals in a 10-minute patch during the first quarter, showcasing their speed in transition, but they were comprehensively outclassed.
The Bulldogs kicked 12 of the next 13 goals to blow the game wide open, surging 58 points clear during the third term when Lobb snapped truly against one of his former clubs.
Fremantle veteran Michael Walters (centre) limped off during the second term. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS)
The Dogs' midfield ran the show through that period, ripping control away from their opponents.
It got ugly late in the match as the home side went into party mode.
The Bulldogs won the tackle count 62-49 and got far more bang for their buck around the contest, leaving Longmuir at a loss to explain his players' lack of fight.
"We just got dominated from go to whoa really," he said.
"We kicked four in a row in the first quarter and the scoreboard would've looked OK, but we were doing it from our back half.
"We never really got the game played on our terms and we got beaten in all aspects that we wanted to compete in."