NEW Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says a stronger Marcus Bontempelli is “bordering on key position dimensions” and will be a significant threat up forward or in the midfield this year.
The first-year coach - who took over from Brendan McCartney during the club’s tumultuous off-season - said Bontempelli had enjoyed an outstanding summer so far and was ready to build on his brilliant debut season.
After finishing one vote shy of winning last year’s NAB AFL Rising Star Award, Bontempelli returned to training 7kg heavier, according to Bulldogs assistant coach Steven King.
On Wednesday, Beveridge said the 193cm Dog was now ready to be a threat up forward as well as in the midfield.
“‘Bont’ will play mid and forward. He is in terrific condition and is bordering on key position dimensions,” he said in response to a question as part of AFL Media's #AskTheCoach series.
“(Bontempelli) should be hard to play against both in the air and at ground level.”
While Bontempelli’s star appears ready to rise further, Beveridge said another young Bulldog, Clay Smith, was battling injury frustrations.
Smith ruptured the ACL in his right knee last year, continuing a horror 18 months since he first ruptured the ligament in July 2013.
After a traditional reconstruction, Smith’s comeback stalled in April last year when he contracted salmonella poisoning.
Then, in his first senior game since the reconstruction, Smith injured the AC joint in his shoulder.
Two months later in the VFL, the midfielder twisted his knee awkwardly, rupturing the ACL in his right knee again.
Beveridge admitted the hard-at-it midfielder was frustrated.
“Clay is frustrated, as he is fit and strong and wants to be involved with everything,” he said.
“We are holding him back as we need to give him the required time to make sure he is totally ready for another assault on what will be a very powerful showing in the Doggies colours.”
Beveridge also touched on the pre-seasons and expectations of Matt Fuller, Caleb Daniel and Joel Hamling among an expansive range of topics.
Expand the comments below to view all of Beveridge's replies.
