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AAP
AAP
Sport
Anna Harrington

Dockers eye redemption for Bulldogs home mauling

The Dockers are keen to make amends for their round-six loss as they visit the Western Bulldogs. (Gary Day/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

Coach Justin Longmuir insists Fremantle are a better team than their round-six 49-point loss to the Western Bulldogs would suggest, as the Dockers eye redemption for that home humiliation.

Marcus Bontempelli and Adam Treloar starred for the Bulldogs as they thumped the Dockers at Optus Stadium on April 21, with Luke Beveridge's charges also winning contested possessions 154-129 and inside-50s 60-44.

"As a team we didn't play well against them last time," Longmuir told reporters ahead of Saturday's rematch at Marvel Stadium.

"We got some things wrong that we need to get right.

"I strongly believe we're better than that performance and we need to improve on what we did last week as well (in a 32-point win over Essendon).

"I'm looking forward to the challenge."

The Dockers have won five of eight games since that Bulldogs beating, with their midfield picking up some steam.

"We've just been able to control our contest method a little bit better which has allowed us to pressure teams ... and not allow them to get on the outside as much," Longmuir said.

"When we play our best footy we're connected across all our lines, which I didn't think we were last time."

Gun midfielder Caleb Serong, 22, is coming off 12 score involvements, 10 clearances and 32 disposals against Essendon.

"He's one of our better players. He's a pro," Longmuir said.

"He's probably been unable to train as much as he would've liked with that leg injury he's been carrying but he mentally prepares well for games.

"Once he gets out there he makes no excuses for his performance and just gets to work.

"His game last week was superb.

"He's continually working to evolve his game but it's at a really high level already."

The seventh-placed Bulldogs (32 points) and 11th-placed Dockers (28) are in a logjam of teams chasing finals spots.

Longmuir said he did not plan to physically target former Docker Rory Lobb, or apply a hard tag to any midfielders.

"They've got some stars in there," he said.

"Clearly Treloar and Bont last week against North were outstanding but it's probably more the collective you have to worry about.

"You stop one, the others get hold of you."

Fremantle aren't managing Alex Pearce (lower leg) after his shutdown job on Essendon spearhead Peter Wright.

"Their forward line's dangerous," Longmuir said.

"So we'll go into the game thinking we'll need him to the last minute."

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