<p>It simply doesn’t get any bigger than this for the Western Bulldogs or Fremantle Dockers in 2025.</p> <p>Win, and you're playing finals. Lose, and you go down as possibly the unluckiest team to ever finish ninth in VFL/AFL history.</p> <p>Imagine winning 15 games in a season… and still missing the finals? That’s exactly what’s on the line for the loser of this game at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.</p> <p>The Bulldogs, who have been hovering just outside the top eight for weeks, finally broke through last weekend with a dominant win over the West Coast Eagles at Marvel. They got the job done early—putting the game to bed quickly—and then cruised home. As much as they didn’t need another percentage boost, the Eagles certainly helped pad the numbers a bit.</p> <p>While the Dogs made their move, the Dockers slipped back into some familiar bad habits in a disappointing loss to the Lions at home.</p> <p>To be fair, Brisbane were seriously good—they forced Fremantle into repeated errors—but the Dockers also fell into that slow, stagnant ball movement that’s plagued them in the past. Scoring dried up, and so did the momentum.&nbsp;</p> <p>Suddenly, the talk was back: is the moment too big again for Freo? Need we remind you of last year’s late-season meltdown?</p> <p>It’s a real possibility that it happens again—only this time from an even stronger position.</p> <p>This is the most consequential game of the season, and fittingly, both teams have recent experience with do-or-die scenarios. It’s the second year in a row Freo faces a must-win final round to make the finals, while the Dogs are no strangers to this kind of chaos—over the past seven seasons, they’ve become regulars in last-round nail-biters with everything on the line.</p> <p>Fremantle should get a big boost with star midfielder Hayden Young expected to be declared fit to play, while Matt Johnson is also in the mix after recovering from an ankle injury.</p> <p>All eyes will be on retiring champion <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/afl/news/fremantle-nat-fyfe-announces-afl-retirement">Nat Fyfe</a>, too. He impressed again as the sub last week—could Justin Longmuir roll the dice and unleash him for what might be his final game?</p> <p>At the Dogs, both Laitham Vandermeer and Josh Dolan are tracking well through concussion protocols and should be available if they tick all the boxes before the weekend.</p> <p>There’s also a watch on Adam Treloar. The veteran midfielder starred in the VFL last Sunday with 40 disposals in a controlled hit-out. Could he be the Hail Mary the Dogs pull at the selection table?</p> <p>We seriously cannot wait for this one.</p> <p>For the latest team news, analysis, odds, and betting tips, check out our Dogs vs Dockers prediction and preview below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle Predicted Teams</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Western Bulldogs Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Lachie Bramble, James O’Donnell, Bailey Dale</p> <p>HB: Luke Cleary, Rory Lobb, Jason Johannisen</p> <p>C: Sam Davidson, Ed Richards, Bailey Williams</p> <p>HF: Joel Freijah, Aaron Naughton, Matt Kennedy</p> <p>F: Riley Garcia, Sam Darcy, Rhylee West</p> <p>Foll: Tim English, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore</p> <p>Int: Oskar Baker, Laitham Vandermeer, Jedd Busslinger, Lachie McNeil, Ryley Sanders</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Fremantle Predicted Team List</h3> <p>B: Luke Ryan, Alex Pearce, Karl Worner</p> <p>HB: Heath Chapman, Brennan Cox, Jordan Clark</p> <p>C: Matt Johnson, Jaeger O’Meara, Nathan O’Driscoll</p> <p>HF: Murphy Reid, Pat Voss, Shai Bolton</p> <p>F: Sam Switkowski, Josh Treacy, Jye Amiss&nbsp;</p> <p>Foll: Sean Darcy, Caleb Serong, Andy Brayshaw</p> <p>Int: Luke Jackson, Corey Wagner, Bailey Banfield, Nat Fyfe, Michael Fredrick</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle Prediction &amp; Betting Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Head-to-Head Prediction</h3> <p>Fremantle got the win when these sides met at Optus Stadium earlier this year, but it’s the Dogs who hold sway on the head-to-head, winning three of the past five clashes.&nbsp;</p> <p>To stack the deck against Freo even more, they’ve only played at Marvel once this year, and they were diabolical that night against the Saints. It’s part of their poor record at the ground since the start of 2023 (two wins and four losses).</p> <p>The Dogs, like they have had for most of the season, have the second-best offensive profile in the game. The Dockers' overall defence has dropped outside the top-eight defensive profiles, and over the past month, as the pressure has come, it has dropped to 11th place.&nbsp;</p> <p>It might be too much for them to handle the Dogs' potent forward line, who all got a lick of the ice cream last week.</p> <p>Does the Dockers dual ruck threat have enough in the tank to go again? Can Caleb Serong finally break a tag, as he is sure to garner some attention from the Dogs? He will need to stand up in a big way, along with Andy Brayshaw, who has only recorded north of 25 disposals once in the past five weeks.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a massive, massive game. We’re going with the home side. Just.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-fremantle-9504846">Dogs</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>First Goal Prediction</h3> <p>While everyone from Freo was quiet and inaccurate last week, it was a shock to see Patrick Voss go goalless after his stellar form over the past five weeks.</p> <p>We’re backing the Prancing Pony to nail the first one here and get the Dockers off to the perfect start away from home.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-fremantle-9504846">Pat Voss</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Most Disposals Prediction</h3> <p>He’s been in ripping form all year and is looking likely bound for an<a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl-all-australian/afl-all-australian-midfielders-multis-open-max-6-mid--8770887"> All-Australian</a> selection and a high finish in the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl-brownlow-medal">Brownlow Medal</a>. But Dogs coach Luke Beveridge will be looking for another big effort here to seal the spot in September from Ed Richards.&nbsp;</p> <p>He’s only topped 30 possessions once in the past month, against the Dees. But when the going got tough in that game, He lifted to get the Dogs over the line..Which will be what the Dogs need here on Sunday from one of their prime movers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Betting tip:</strong> <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/australian-rules/afl/western-bulldogs-v-fremantle-9504846">Ed Richards 30+ disposals&nbsp;</a></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs vs Fremantle Dockers Match Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Date:</strong> Sunday, August 24, 2025</p> <p><strong>First Bounce: </strong>3:15 PM, AEST</p> <p><strong>Location:</strong> Marvel Stadium, Melbourne</p> <p><strong>How to watch:</strong> Channel 7, Fox Footy/ Kayo Sports</p>