Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli says he honoured to one day be considered worthy to captain the Club.

But right now, fresh from signing a new contract extension, his sole focus is on supporting Dogs’ skipper Easton Wood.

Bontempelli, who turns 23 on Saturday, will enter his second season as vice-captain in 2019 and feels like he is charting new territory as a young leader.

“Woody is doing an excellent job as skipper and I still see myself as a young player, still with growth and still with room to grow in that space,” he told Bob Murphy in an interview for westernbulldogs.com.au.

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“It’s humbling to be regarded in that way (as a future leader), but at the minute I’m just trying to support Woody in every way that I can.

“Vice-captaincy is a great role, to have a level of influence amongst the group.

“If the time ever came to step up and to captain, it’s definitely something I’d be willing to do and look forward to.”

While Bontempelli is fully behind his captain, he says the thought of leading a young Bulldogs group one day is an enticing prospect.

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“Once you spend four or five years at a football club – you come to know the ins and outs of the people and the organisation,” he said.

“I feel like I am now part of the true essence of the Bulldogs culture and the Club, and one of the people who can start to shape us going forward.”

“That’s the exciting part for me as well – away from the field and the game – what sort of influence can I have on the whole group and the club as a whole?”

“It’s new territory for me that I’m really excited to continue to explore.”