Speaking to the media on the back of the Club's exciting partnership announcement on Wednesday, Marcus Bontempelli spoke openly about his own situation heading into the 2025 season as well as praising his teammates in their attitude so far in the pre-season. 

Here's what the captain had to say: 

On his contract renewal: 

“For me, in my own journey, especially coming off of last year [my focus] was sort of a really lock in on the summer period.

"Even for me in my previous contract negotiations, I’ve always taken my time with them. I think that’s because my priorities change at this time of the year.

"They definitely become more focused on performance and getting the group in the best shape to start the season.

“To say I haven’t put any thought into it isn’t probably right. But, it’s just not right at the top of my list of things I want to focus on at the minute. Tommy [Petroro - manager] and I will continue to work through the conversations as we go.

“My mentality at the minute is to prepare for our first proper ‘scratchy’ on the weekend and have the guys really ready to go.

"I’ll assess those things and treat them as I feel the need to. Definitely not worried about it at all. As you all know, there’s a long relationship between me and the football club and we’re in a really good spot at the minute.”

On the team and expectations to go further in 2025: 

“That’s been the goal every single season. You step out on the field and then it obviously doesn’t play out that way. There’s different reasons for why that is.

“Of course we want to contend. I think we’d be wasting our time and everyone else’s time if that wasn’t our mentality. That’s my attitude when I walk in the building every single morning. It’s with the hope that we can play as deep as we can every single season. The talk is cheap now because we’ve barely started.

“It is stating the obvious but, until we start playing and proving it, the talk is cheap.”

On external scrutiny and injuries from the pre-season: 

“I guess so externally it might be perceived that way.

“Internally, I can’t question our guys and their attitudes towards preparing ourselves as best as we can.

“In my opinion, we’ve had a strong kind of build-up.

“Every team is going to have their moment with injuries and guys going down but, it’s a harsh reality of the game.

"We’re pretty confident in the support we can provide to those guys when it happens and know we can get them back at some point. It’s an opportunity for someone else.”

On Jamarra Ugle-Hagan:

“He’s going well. There’s no real timeline on where things are at with Jamarra. As you’ve probably read, and as the Club has spoken to, he’s focused on his health and wellbeing and the performance aspect definitely comes second.

"He’s continuing to work in the same model as he has for the past few weeks and we try and support him in the best way that we can.

“With football being the second most important thing. His health and wellbeing the priority.

“I just want him to feel as though he’s being supported the best he can. I know he is from top to bottom. From our coaching group, from our wellness staff, from our medical team and then obviously the players as well.

“He’s continuing to build through the current program he’s in at the minute and we all just want the best for him.”

On Sam Darcy:

“I’m not going to put a ceiling on him, even though this one is just big enough.

“I love his competitiveness. I think that’s the thing you always want to see from young players.

Early days he was still growing into his body but, Sam’s commitment to just competing, is what’s most impressive.

"His attitude to training, the way he applies himself, the want to already be a leader in many of the things that he does is what impresses me the most.

“As an older player now who is heading to the other part of his career, it’s awesome to see guys like Sam - and others, that are starting to set the tone and now, in some ways, drag a few of us forward that are getting into the twilight of our careers.

"That’s inspiring to me. How he performs and plays is still an unknown. I’ve got great confidence in his make-up that he’s going to have a big influence and we’ll see what that looks like this year.”

On Bevo and the coaching group: 

“I think he’s in a really good headspace at the minute. He’s coaching with great confidence.

"I think the group around him - as (Sam Darcy) touched on, Spang (Matthew Spangher), Daniel Pratt, Ladey (Brendon Lade), Matty Egan and our development coaches as well, I think the mix has been really strong. It’s definitely helped him a lot in his pursuit to be the best influence he can be on our team.

“He continues to be a strong influence on our group. I think we all sit here, even though he doesn’t like the word excited - because he thinks it’s a given, he thinks you should be ready to go, we’re all looking forward to the start of the season kicking off and the prep over the next month.”

On his own role and increased forward-half time in 2025: 

“Not more than any other pre-season, to be honest. It’s always going to be an aspect of my game that hopefully I can continue to explore.

"As you said, the team might look different from the final from last year on multiple fronts and that’s just the evolution of the game, the evolution of players that you want. You want different players to put their hands up and start putting pressure on for spots.

“I don’t really see it changing too much from my perspective. Unless, the look is good and it helps us from a front-half perspective, I’m pretty confident with Sam and Aaron and Cody and the other guys around there to have a pretty strong influence.

“It shouldn’t look to different to last year.”

On Ryley Sanders:

“He’s taken some big steps this pre-season. Especially in his running capacity and his body.

"He’s really starting to showcase the things he was known for in his under-18 year. As you know, it’s a pretty steep learning curve to go from the under-18 comp to being a really good AFL player.

"There’s no doubt his first season has taught him a few lessons and he’s definitely come back with a strong appetite to want to insert himself into a first-pick midfield.

“Couldn’t have asked anything more of him and I’m excited as well, as I said with Darc, to see him and others start to really influence the game on the level that they can.”