It’s becoming a bit of a habit of late, the Western Bulldogs dragging themselves over the line in yet another tight contest on Saturday night.

It was the fourth heart-stopper in five weeks.  Putting aside the 57-point loss to Geelong, wins over the Eagles, Power, Swans and now Richmond have come at an average margin of one straight kick.

“I suppose it’s good and bad,” midfielder Jack Macrae told SEN yesterday.

“It’s probably a bit nerve-wracking for the supporters and the coaches, and I think Gia said he has added a few grey hairs after the last few weeks.

“I guess you can look at it in the positive sense, we’re really stepping up when the game is on the line, we’re consistently seeing a top players step up under the pressure, but it would be nice to put them to bed a bit earlier as well.”

One of those players is Marcus Bontempelli. 

While Jake Stringer’s four goal last term has been the talk of the town, Bontempelli’s impact on the result was just as crucial.

During the last term, the smooth-moving 20-year-old collected eight disposals at 100% efficiency, four clearances, four score involvements and a goal, and his interception of a stray Connor Menadue handball and lighting quick give to Stringer to set up the winning goal was one of the plays of the game.  It all happened in the blink of an eye, but Bontempelli’s habit of performing when it counts has not been lost on his teammates.

“He lives for those moments,” Jason Johannisen told ABC Grandstand on Sunday.

“Just all the work he does during the week, I think it helps him a lot when it comes to those crucial contests  in the last quarter. 

“He was just tremendous.”