Retro Round Dream Team reveal: Leaders
To celebrate our Retro Round last weekend, we asked fans to select the best Bulldogs team of the last 25 years.
Captain: Chris Grant
Chris Grant was voted into the Retro Round Dream Team half-forward line, slotting 554 goals from 341 games across an 18-season career. Drafted with pick 105 in the 1988 VFL Draft, he became the youngest player – 17 years old – to kick 51 goals in his debut season in 1990. With clean hands and strong marking abilities, Grant went onto achieve a number of accolades, including two Charles Sutton Medals (1994 and 1996), triple-All Australian selection (1997, 1998 and 1999), and Australian Football Hall of Fame induction (2012) post-retirement. He also served as Club captain from 2001-2004.
Vice-captain: Marcus Bontempelli
Current AFL captain Marcus Bontempelli needs no introduction. Voted into the Retro Round Dream Team as an outside midfielder, the four-time All Australian and four-time Charles Sutton Medallist continues establish himself as one of the competition’s best. Taken with pick number four in the 2013 National Draft, the 2016 Premiership Bulldog is proficient around the contest, has a damaging left foot and possesses the ability to hit the scoreboard. Bontempelli enjoyed a career-best year last season, claiming the AFLPA MVP Trophy and Best Captain award, being named vice-captain of the All Australian side and finishing runner-up in the Brownlow Medal count. This season, he is averaging 23 disposals, five marks and five clearances.
Western Bulldogs Retro Round Dream Team
FB: Lindsay Gilbee, Brian Lake, Easton Wood
HB: Bob Murphy, Dale Morris, Rohan Smith
C: Scott West, Marcus Bontempelli, Jack Macrae
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Chris Grant, Nathan Brown
FF: Brad Johnson, Barry Hall, Tory Dickson
Foll: Scott Wynd, Tom Liberatore, Tony Liberatore
Int: Luke Darcy, Liam Picken, Matthew Boyd, Adam Cooney
Captain: Chris Grant
Vice-captain: Marcus Bontempelli
