Marcus Bontempelli will celebrate his 100th AFL match this weekend, but he says any reflection will have to wait until after the game.

Bontempelli will share the milestone with Jason Johannisen when the Dogs line-up against Melbourne on Saturday afternoon. 

“I probably haven’t reflected on it just yet, maybe after the game,” Bontempelli told RSN this morning.

“I guess in passing there are little things throughout your career that you go, ‘gee, that was pretty big.’ And, in the scheme of things, looking back on it after my career ends there will be things I reflect on as key moments.”

Taken with the Bulldogs’ first selection (4th pick overall) in 2013, Bontempelli’s CV is impressive -  has won two Charles Sutton Medals (2016, 2017) - being the youngest dual-winner in history - and was a key member of the Club’s 2016 premiership, but he hasn’t stopped learning.

“There has been a lot happen. After my first year having a whole lot of change after one season with the coach, captain and CEO changing,” he said.

“It took a bit of adjustment after that pre-season and once we settled into a more consistent environment in that sense, a lot has happened (since). The loss in the elimination final, the 2016 finals series, and the fight and grind now to get back to our best football more consistently.

“Personally having some good seasons of football and now still trying to find my best week in and week out. That’s one thing football has taught me – there are no givens. It’s constantly teaching and re-teaching you lessons you’ve learned in the past. You’ve got to continue driving and finding a way to reinvent yourself and find new things. It’s a constant challenge.”

Bontempelli said the guidance he received in the early years helped him to find his way, particularly former captain Bob Murphy and current coach Luke Beveridge.

“I was fortunate enough to have some incredible leaders throughout the football club.

“Bob Murphy took on the captaincy of the club after that 2014 season. That was a shining light for all of us. Bevo coming in also changed the whole spirit and vibe around the football club.

“At the time, in the media, it was almost like panic stations, that was how it was being reported. For me as a young player to read that but then to be so confident in the leaders that were really driving the direction of the club - that was important for me as a young player to really feed off the energy of the people in front of you and before you and the older players.

“They could see the direction of the footy club and I’m seeing that now – the way you can portray that positive message and help the younger cohort, which is probably the majority of the list under 25, to help them understand and keep the vibe bumbling and keep the vision really bright.”