It’s fast becoming a feature of every Western Bulldogs game; when Marcus Bontempelli goes forward good things happen, and Friday night in Canberra was no different.
Sent deep in the second term, the 21-year-old kicked two crucial goals and helped wrestle back the momentum, turning a five-point quarter time deficit into a nine-point lead at the main break.
He would eventually finish with three majors, 10 score involvements and 22 touches at 82%, including 16 forward of centre, in the club’s two-point loss.
It’s the kind of high-impact play that makes him such a dangerous proposition for opposition coaches.
While his total time spent in the forward half is only marginally up on last season according to Champion Data, he’s now averaging a fraction under two goals a game (up from one) and is third at the Club in score involvements.
Speaking to SEN on Saturday morning, Bontempelli said whether he plays closer to goal or not is usually dictated by how the game is playing out, but that flexibility, list-wide is key.
“We always value the flexibility side of the team and in what we can provide in different areas of the game,” he said.
“With the amount of quality mids that we have at the club, it is important that we can all share time at the club in different positions.
“Sometimes I end up spending more time forward than other games but it’s a little game dependent.”
While wayward kicking for goal, particularly in the pivotal second quarter hurt, the Dogs will take some positives into next Saturday’s clash with Richmond.
“From a four-quarter perspective I think we all felt we were on point, but for most of that game, [we weren’t] able to finish off some of our opportunities,” Bontempelli said.
“So I think that’s something promising to take away from the game, that we did hit our structures for most of the game, but now, going forward it’s about being able to finish to keep us in better spots in the game.”
