IT was yet another thriller between Western Bulldogs and Fremantle, but Bulldogs coach Nathan Burke was proud of how his side handled the tense final moments to close out the game and win by three points. A series of intercept contested marks inside the defensive 50, and a myriad of selfless team acts to get the Bulldogs over the line, saw the home team grab the 3.5 (23) to 3.2 (20) victory over Fremantle.

“I’ve played against them three times and every game has been a ripper,” Burke said. “I think they’ve beaten us the last three times too, so it’s good to get one on the right side. I dunno what it is, but we tend to have really good games against Freo.

The Western Bulldogs took a whopping 11 contested marks, and despite being in front for just 19 minutes in the match – and by no more than five points at any stage – the Bulldogs showed off their defensive abilities in the dying stages. Burke said funnily enough, contested marking was a key focus over the off-season.

“It’s funny what you choose to work on over preseason and contested marking is something that we’ve done a lot of,” Burke said. “James Kennedy who’s our ruck coach, I’ve never taken a contested mark in my life so I’ve handballed a lot to him and he’s been working on all those players. “Especially right there at the end, I think we took three in a row which really iced the game. “To take a contested mark in this game, it’s probably worth two in the men’s game because it’s such an important feature.”

Burke knew his chargers would fight right until the final siren, saying it was what just came “naturally” to them. In his few years coaching the red, white and blue, he was yet to see them take a backwards step when it came to putting everything on the line for four points.

“They’ve been like that the last couple of years,” Burke said. “I can’t remember a game where I’ve walked away and they’ve gone and I’ve gone ‘they’ve just turned their toes up today, their effort wasn’t there’. “Every single time they play, that’s just them. “That’s what we talk about a lot. It’s such a competitive league this.

“Freo hadn’t won a game so far, probably hadn’t been playing their greatest football but they’re going to come at you. “Hawks are going to come at us next week, so we’re going to have that part of our game so that winning and losing a close one in a 10-game season can kill you. “I’m glad we got the right end tonight.”

There were plenty of shining lights in the win, with defender Katie Lynch one who has been starring, and Burke said she played her best game under lights at Ikon Park. Lynch had 14 disposals, seven marks, three tackles, three rebound 50s and seven intercepts in the win, and is in All-Australian form according to the coach.

“She’s been outstanding and just understanding when to sag off and go for the mark, and when to stay on my opponent,” Burke said. Last week she was 90 per cent of the way there, tonight I thought she was really good at that, at that choice was outstanding. “The fact that when she goes she marks the footy, it’s just so important for us to set up off the half-back line. “I’ve challenged her to be an All-Australian centre half-back, the way she started the season she looks like she’s going to be that.”

From an experienced member of the team to a fresh face, Burke put the Rising Star committee on notice by highlighting young gun Rylie Wilcox. The former Northern Knights star had 11 disposals 252 metres gained and kicked a ripping goal, leading the Bulldogs coach to believe she had to come under consideration for the Round 3 Rising Star nomination.

Burke said Wilcox had been recruited to fill a role, but conceded she had been “amazing” since arriving at the club, learning at a rapid rate.

“We needed a smart winger who can play that position really well. Haven’t really had one, we’ve sort of been cobbling a few together over the last couple of years,” Burke said. “So we’ve brought her in for a role. Did we expect her to play the role so well at the start? Probably not, but she by her preseason only training once a week and twice a week at times just forced her way into the team.

“I don’t know who picks rising stars, I thought she might have got a nod last week, but thought she’s going to be very, very hard to overlook this week.”

Western Bulldogs will eye off four consecutive wins next week when they head to Box Hill to take on expansion side Hawthorn from 3:10pm on Saturday, September 17.