Player Ratings - Round 18

For the second successive season, the western Bulldogs have secured their passage into the finals with a victory the last day of the home and-away-season.

Despite it being a tense and nervous arm wrestle for most of the match, the Bulldogs increased their lead at every change to run out 30-point winners over Fremantle to see them sit in seventh spot for the moment, but our opponent in the first week of the finals won't be known until the result of the Port Adelaide-Collingwood match plays out.

3. Mitch Wallis Deserves great credit to reaching 150 games, especially given all that he has endured throughout his career, even if 1.2 from eight disposals wasn’t his best showing. A popular figure amongst teammates and fans, all will be sweating on the outcome of his shoulder injury, although Luke Beveridge seemed confident that all should be ok post-match - 4

4. Marcus Bontempelli Fitting that the captain be the one to kick the final goal of the match and see the Bulldogs through. Had a pretty big game as well, being one of only three Bulldogs to notch 20 disposals, but also had seven clearances and six inside-50 entries - 8

5. Josh Dunkley For someone who is not noted as being great user of the ball, he did well to find a target with each of his 15 disposals. But with just three tackles and one clearance, it wasn’t his most dominant performance - 6

6. Bailey Smith Off the boil for the first time in a long time. That usual dash and explosiveness was lacking from his game, which resulted in just 14 disposals. Critically, though, kicked an important goal in the third term as scoring became increasingly difficult - 5

7. Lachie Hunter What a performance. 35 disposals at 82% efficiency simply doesn’t do justice to how hard he worked. Seemed to be at every contest, either sweeping across to win the ball back, or providing an option for a teammate. Also took seven marks (including a game-high four inside-50), five inside-50s, was involved in nine scores, gained a whopping 601 metres, and kicked an important goal in the last term. Only his inaccuracy (1.3) prevented this from being a perfect game - 9

With the season on the line, Lachie Hunter did just about everything to get the Bulldogs home. Source: Getty Images

9. Hayden Crozier Started up forward, in what was a very unexpected switch in magnets. Wasn’t overly dominant, but did have an impact. Set up the Lipinski goal, laid six tackles and was also the architect of a couple of vital smothers - 7

10. Easton Wood Hard to judge. Wasn’t his greatest day, and would’ve been happy just to get through the match, but wasn’t really troubled by any of Fremantle’s forwards. His six disposals included four clangers - 5

11. Jackson Macrae Was subdued for most of the match, recording just 19 disposals - just the third time he’s recorded fewer than 20 since 2016 - and only hit a target with half of them. Still holds the lead in our rankings, but the chasers are closing in - 5

12. Zaine Cordy Matt Tabener being a late out meant that the Dockers had quite a small forward line, often meaning that Cordy was against opponents who he had a considerable size advantage over. Still carried out his job with due professionalism, but it also meant he was able to enjoy some rare ventures forward. A team-high six intercepts, too - 7

15. Taylor Duryea Just a solid, reliable presence in defence. Won’t attract huge numbers (17 disposals), but settles the side to great effect. Does the little things right defensively and it makes a big difference, like kicking the ball long in greasy conditions; he gained 438 metres, second only to Hunter - 7

17. Josh Bruce He could’ve gone back to the hub at half time, and it still would’ve been his second-best showing of the season. Looked much more threatening, and looked more likely to take marks when he was targeted. Also kicked an important goal in the second term. Promising signs heading into a likely finals clash against his former team - 7

20. Ed Richards I don’t want to say that he’s being carried into the finals, but this was the second time in the last three weeks that he’s managed just three kicks in a match. A player of his ability needs to be having more of an impact. Two goal assists makes things look slightly rosier - 4

21. Tom Liberatore Immense. 25 disposals is alright as it is, but 12 score involvements, eight tackles, seven clearances, six inside-50s, two goal assists equaled a huge night for Libba. Add in 41 pressure acts (13 more than the next-most by any player for the match), and you have the performance of a man who was determined to play finals. Key to the Bulldogs aspirations; if he plays well, the Dogs are a chance - 10

27. Patrick Lipinski

His form has been patchy at best this year, but he looked determined to make up for lost time. Ran well across the ground to get his 17 disposals, which included a goal. Furthermore, 10 of those 17 touches resulted in scores - 8

33. Aaron Naughton Spent the second half in hospital after a head clash with Sean Darcy during the second term. He’s likely suffered a fractured cheekbone; whether he’s sustained damage to the eye socket will be the key as to whether he can front up for the finals. Was useful until that point, with one goal from four disposals - 4

34. Bailey Williams

Starting to win less of the ball than he was earlier in the season, but is still having an impact. This week, he managed a team-high five rebounds and two intercept marks to go with his 13 disposals - 7

35. Caleb Daniel Was shifted around the ground in an attempt to shake off probably the most effective tag laid in him all season. Wasn’t as damaging as he has been for most of the season, but his goal in the final term to seal the Bulldogs passage into the finals was as vital as any kick he’s pulled off all season - 6

37. Roarke Smith As you’d expect, he was tidy with his disposals all night, hitting a target with nine of his eleven touches, and produced one of the highlights of the night, selling some fine candy to set up Hunter's last-quarter goal. It's hard to see him being squeezed out of the team ahead of finals, and having played just 22 games in six seasons, it's a great story of persistence - 6

39. Jason Johannisen

Was barely sighted for large portions of the game, finishing the match with just nine disposals and a goal. Will be hoping to have a far bigger impact in his next game - 4

42. Alex Keath

Like Cordy, his job was made slightly easier without Matt Tabener, but spent the entire second half up forward after Naughton was taken to hospital. Almost kicked a great goal from a tight angle as well. His second-half cameo didn't leave us too exposed down back, so it made keeping him down there an easier decision for Luke Beveridge - 5

43. Ryan Gardner

Bailey Williams probably already has the most improved player trophy sewn up, but this guy is making up some serious ground late. The one constant in the Bulldog defence all night, he led the way defensively one more, with nine spoils and 10 one-percenters both being game highs. Yes, his disposal is still questionable, but if he played against Eric Hipwood tomorrow night, there's no way he'd concede five goals again. Also set to play his first final, and what a story of redemption it has been - 7

Ryan Gardner (L) and Bailey Williams (2nd from L) have been the biggest improvers for the Bulldogs this year, and both are set to be rewarded with a finals berth. Source: Getty Images

44. Tim English

Was terrific in the face of another set of twin towers in the ruck. The hitout count was lopsided on paper (43-23), but that's more due to Fremantle having two genuine ruck options in Darcy and Lobb. English made them pay the other way, however, managing 14 disposals and 2.0, which could've been 3.0 had he not unselfishly passed off to Bontempelli late on. It's been a great year of improvement for him, and he'll be eager to make a big statement in two weeks' time - 8

LEADERBOARD:

1. Jackson Macrae - 130 votes

=2. Marcus Bontempelli - 123 votes

=2. Caleb Daniel - 123 votes

4. Bailey Williams - 120 votes

5. Alex Keath - 118 votes