Season in short:
If Marcus Bontempelli’s debut season at the Kennel was a pointer to the career that lies ahead, then Bulldogs fans have much to look forward to.
Around the stoppages, down back, and in front of goals, Bontempelli showed in his first year that he had the tools to do it all.
PLAYER PROFILE: View Marcus Bontempelli's player profile and 2014 season statistics.
Recruited from the Northern Knights with the fourth pick overall in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft, Bontempelli played 16 games in his first season of AFL football after debuting in round five against Carlton.
But despite the hype and highlights reel, it’s the ethic of the humble, unassuming and hard-working teenager that has had most in awe.
Bontempelli won the Club’s Chris Grant Best First Year Player Award at the Sutton Medal in September, and earned the praise too of his peers at season’s end, Bontempelli was a landslide victor in the AFL Players’ Association Best First Year Player Award.
The 18-year-old polled nearly five times the votes as runner-up Luke Dunstan of St Kilda, becoming just the first Bulldogs player to win the award.
Bontempelli was runner-up in the NAB AFL Rising Star Award to Brisbane’s Lewis Taylor, missing-out by just one vote in the closest polling in the award’s history.
He averaged 16 disposals and one goal in his debut year, and earned a Hungry Jacks Goal of the Year nomination for his match-winning snap against Melbourne in round 15.
Bontempelli collected 20 disposals or more on four occasions in his first year, with his 24 disposal match against Port Adelaide his most prolific ball winning performance.
Stat that mattered:
Bontempelli’s versatility both up forward and through the midfield saw him rank first out of all first year platers in the competition for inside 50s, third for clearances and fifth for goals.
What they said:
“I think if you buy into your own press you can start to drop off in your own performance - you can't think about it too much.” Marcus Bontempelli speaking ahead of the NAB AFL Rising Star Awards.
“I’m so grateful to have joined such a great club, and a great group of boys…I can’t wait to go on into the future with this group.” – Marcus Bontempelli speaking at the Sutton Medal.
“He has been a pleasure work with for the coaches and the senior players love him for his attitude and desire to get better… a couple of VFL games that Marcus played earlier in the season were just exceptional, so it’s no surprise to us that he has been able to step in and actually make a very sound contribution early.” List Manager Jason McCartney on Bontempelli.
