“The gap was reduced by a significant amount,and we lost that edge on the scoreboard.

“We went away from some things that had served us well in the early parts of the game,and then Fremantle got a little bit better at some of the things they weren’t doing so well.

“They just chipped away,and in the end were just the better side for the length of the game.

“In the end,after being up by so much,it was death by a thousand cuts.”

It remains unclear what clubs would be prepared to offer the Bulldogs in a trade for Dunkley if he chooses to leave,with the Lions also having to gather draft points to select father-son prospects Will Ashcroft and Jaspa Fletcher in the 2022 national draft.

Out of contract Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen has been linked to the Gold Coast,while Zaine Cordy and Rhylee West remain unsigned.

Port Adelaide are also hoping to catch up with West Coast’s Junior Rioli before he decides on whether to request a trade to the club who has made him a bigger offer than the Eagles.

The Western Bulldogs lead the race to recruit the Dockers’ Rory Lobb,who remains contracted but is expected to request a trade,and will land defender Liam Jones,who retired from the game late last year after refusing to adhere to the AFL’s COVID vaccination policy. Jones is an unrestricted free agent,with Carlton hoping to receive compensation for losing him.

With Steve Barrett

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