AFL 2024 round eight LIVE updates: Dockers dominate Tigers at the ’G; Bulldogs and Hawks to battle

The Bulldogs and Hawthorn are off at Marvel Stadium.

Will Hawthorn be able to notch their second win this season, or will the Bulldogs be too strong?

We’re about to find out.

We now head across to Marvel Stadium where the Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn will face off. The Dogs as heavy favourites.

How do you see this one playing out?

Docker charge continues
There was nothing but four points to gain for Fremantle at the MCG on Sunday.

They are on a mission to redeem their woeful 2023 season and were the heavy favourites to take down an understrength Richmond, which they did in a 54-point result despite a third-quarter detour.

Nat Fyfe was brilliant a week ago but started as a surprise substitute and did not enter the game until the third term, leaving the likes of Hayden Young, Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw to pick up the slack.

That trio were excellent, while Luke Ryan amassed a career-most 39 disposals, 15 marks and nine intercept possessions as they outclassed Adem Yze’s one-win Tigers.

The Dockers have two of the most promising key forwards in the game in Josh Treacy and Jye Amiss, who combined for six goals to be the envy of the Tiger coaches.

Where to for Tiger key forwards?
Richmond’s three deepest forwards to start Sunday’s clash with Fremantle were Mykelti Lefau, Marlion Pickett and Shai Bolton, with Tom Lynch and Noah Balta both still sidelined.

That was an indictment on Jacob Koschitzke and Samson Ryan, neither of whom played well enough in their big-name peers’ absence to escape VFL purgatory.

They kicked two goals apiece in the Tiger reserves’ comfortable victory over Coburg, including Ryan putting his finger to his mouth after one of them to mock silence the opposition club’s fans.

Richmond gave ex-Hawk Koschitzke a two-year deal in the off-season but he is yet to illustrate he can be part of the solution in Jack Riewoldt’s retirement.

Ryan remains a project but at age 23 is no longer a kid.

Torrid injury toll
Jacob Hopper and Jack Graham were the latest casualties in going out of the side ahead of Sunday’s match, joining Lynch, Balta, Dion Prestia, Tim Taranto, Josh Gibcus and more.

The lopsided loss leaves the Tigers with seven defeats from eight games and a percentage shy of 72.

The season appears lost as far as finals are concerned, so they will instead hope to gain intel on their group of youngsters, from Tom Brown, Maurice Rioli and Tyler Sonsie to Seth Campbell and Thomson Dow.

Key defender Ben Miller is 24, on a one-year deal and fighting for his career, but he was a positive on Sunday.

They have a decent draft hand this year, with ex-St Kilda talent scout now in charge of that department after Matt Clarke’s departure to West Coast, and need to invest in youth.

Richmond kicked the opening goal of the game, but then Fremantle got the next three and from there, they were away.

The Tigers mounted somewhat of a second half comeback but never came close to closing in of the Dockers, who kicked 15 goals to six over the course of the afternoon.

It was a performance led by Caleb Serong, Hayden Young and Luke Ryan, while Josh Treacy had a four-goal haul.

It’s the Dockers biggest score at the MCG since 2015.

Fremantle defeated Richmond 15.12 (103) to 6.13 (49).

Kamdyn McIntosh, who came on as the tactical sub, booted a late on for the Tigers. It finished off an efficient chain down the far side, however, the Dockers responded quickly through Hayden Young.

Young, along with Caleb Serong, having a very good game.

And if you’re curious about crowd numbers: all this happened in front of 32,252 fans at the ’G today.

You’d think the game would be pretty much out of reach for the Tigers now, down by 41 points with just over seven minutes left on the clock.

While Richmond have found a spark in the second half, their one-goal first half has made things very hard for them.

And the Dockers aren’t slowing down, the last goal of the game coming from Bailey Banfield.

Fremantle by 41.

Fremantle transitioned off turnover to capitalise and get the opening goal of the final quarter.

It came from Josh Treacy, his second of the afternoon, to extend the Dockers’ lead.

Then, moments later he backed it up with another, his third. The Dockers look away.

Fremantle by 37.

Very encouraging third quarter for Richmond’s underdog crew, after a Michael Frederick snap extended Fremantle’s lead to a match-high 37 points early in the second half.

The Tigers finally offered some resistance and put the Dockers under pressure with their defensive intent and dash as they kicked three goals on the trot in an unexpected twist that gives Adem Yze’s men the chance of scoring an upset.

Freo still take a 24-point lead into the final term – thanks to a Matt Johnson steadier – but more of the same that term will leave them vulnerable.

Caleb Serong leads everyone with 29 disposals, while Jayden Short continues to pace the yellow and black with 24.