There’s been no shortage of highlight-worthy plays so far in Marcus Bontempelli’s 2016 season.

On Friday night against Collingwood, the 20-year-old again elevated his output when the game was in the balance, in what’s becoming almost a weekly display of the midfielder’s might.

Within a 45 minute period, Bontempelli had 14 possessions at 93% efficiency, two goals, and five score involvements to lead his side’s late charge from the midway stages of the third term.

But dig a bit deeper and beyond the high marks and long goals, is what teammate Matthew Boyd called the emergence of ‘a complete player’.

The stats don’t lie.

Bontempelli is number one at the Kennel for contested possessions, clearances, tackles and score involvements.  None of it is sexy, but all of it is critical to the Dogs’ mix. 

A case in point was an important centre clearance mid-way through the second term of Friday night’s match.

Bontempelli holds off Adam Treloar with his right hand, scoops the ball with his left, dishes to Lukas Webb who finds Zaine Cordy, who kicks the goal.

It all happened within 14 seconds, and  none of it happens without Bontempelli’s grunt work.

Speaking with SEN on Saturday afternoon, Boyd said the 20-year-old’s willingness to do the team thing is impressive.

“He played a role for us, he’s done it for the last couple of weeks actually,” he said.

“When you get your best player to play a team role, and for him to put his hand up and say ‘no worries’ it’s the sign of a really strong character.”

“His attitude to work, his attitude to do the team things… he’s a super young player and I can’t speak highly enough of him.”