Western Bulldogs' finals loss to Fremantle has raised more questions about their lack of consistency in 2022, with coach Luke Beveridge unable to rule out a hangover from last year's devastating grand final defeat.
After leading by as much as 41 points and holding Fremantle goalless until the 20-minute mark of the second quarter on Saturday night, the Bulldogs were left stunned as the Dockers stormed home to run out 13-point winners.
Fremantle booted 11 of the final 13 goals in the 11.7 (73) to 8.12 (60) victory at Perth Stadium.
Luke Beveridge's men will be left to rue a horrendous fade-out which had shades of their last visit to the west during September — their grand final defeat to Melbourne last year.
In the premiership decider in Perth, the Dogs had led by 19 points after half-time before the Demons turned the game on its head with 16 of the last 17 goals.
Coach Beveridge denied his players had lost their nerve and cautioned against comparing Saturday's loss to their grand final defeat.
But he conceded it was difficult to know whether the "trauma" of that loss had lingered over the course of the season.
"It's difficult to understand any sort of magnitude on that, whether it did or whether it didn't," he said.
"We felt at different stages, with one or two of the significant wins, that we were definitely moving beyond that.
"But all of us as individuals, when we think about what we're capable of, we'd self reflect and say, 'I think I can be more consistent'.
"That's what we have to strive for next year."
The loss brought to an end a disappointing season for the Bulldogs, who rarely reached the heights of their grand final run in 2022.
The sons of the west had their moments, beating top-four finishers Melbourne and Sydney along the way.
But losses to Carlton, Adelaide and Port Adelaide, who all missed out on September action — and to Richmond and Fremantle who finished above them — collectively made the difference between a season-ending trip to Perth and a home elimination final or even a shot at sneaking into the top four.
The Bulldogs silenced the Perth crowd early and raced to a big lead, but could not hold it as the home side came home with a rush.
"We were up by 40, it's a significant swing and it's bloody disappointing," Beveridge said.
Marcus Bontempelli, superb for the Dogs in their grand-final defeat, was again brilliant on the big stage, booting two first-quarter goals while also influencing the midfield battle.
Bailey Smith and Adam Treloar also made hot starts with the Bulldogs comfortably leading contested possessions, inside-50s and tackles at the first change.
When Josh Dunkley slotted the first goal of the second term to extend the visitors' lead to 41 points, the Dockers looked done for.
But spurred on by a sellout crowd, Fremantle responded with Michael Walters' drought-breaking major kickstarting a stunning comeback.
A disappointed Beveridge said his side had been "chipping away at consistency" with their decision-making and ball use.
"We got a lot of that right early. Then we got it incorrect for large periods of the second half. That's as blunt as I can be," he said.
AAP/ABC
