Whether you have realised it or not, we are now watching a new generation of AFL footballers who can kick goals like Tony Lockett, mark like Wayne Carey and gather the ball like Robert Harvey.
They are packaged to do it all and Marcus Bontempelli is at the forefront.
The 23-year old has leveled up his skill set each season since his debut in April 2014 and looks set to explode toward greater heights as an elite jack-of-all-trades made for the modern AFL landscape.
You only need to look at last week’s three-goal loss to the Lions where he collected 35 touches, five marks, seven tackles, five inside-50s and a goal to believe it.
The Bont was drafted by the Western Bulldogs seven years ago at pick No.4. – a draft known for Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly going to Greater Western Sydney at picks one and two.
At 83 kilograms, recruiters labelled him the next Luke Hodge with a strong kick and a good read on the play. They said he was one of the more polarising players as a tall, talented midfielder with size and versatility.
In 2019, Bontempelli stands at 193 centimetres and 93 kilograms, but back then, he was just a fledgling footballer with hope, dreams and everything in front of him .
It didn’t take long for Bontempelli to alert the AFL competition he had arrived. In 2015, his second year, the midfielder collected 27 touches, six grabs, ten tackles and sent the ball inside 50 eight times to help defeat Richmond by 19 points in Round 2.
He averaged 21 disposals that year and was voted the best young talent by the AFL coaches. He was seen as the Bulldogs’ marquee player. Amid the hype, Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney told The Age: “There are no fluctuations, his demeanour around the club is always the same.”
This year, Bontempelli has shifted gears. He’s hitting career game highs in almost every statistical category, averaging 26 disposals, four and a half marks, five and a half inside-50s, six clearances and two rebound-50s.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
He’s ranked fourth in the AFL for inside-50s, seventh for centre clearances and is the second best player for metres gained, averaging 521 per match. He is rated by the AFL as the sixth best player in the competition.
The numbers tell us his skill set covers the entire ground. He’s not just a clearance specialist from centre bounces. He rebounds. He runs to be that marking option out of defence and because of his size, he can be an extra tall option. He kicks goals.
Probably the best skill of all is that he creates scoring opportunities. This is why he’s become the exhaustive, modern AFL player.
Don’t take my word for it. Watch how he plays. That will tell you everything you need to know about him.
During the 113-66 win over Fremantle, Bontempelli won a rushed centre clearance kick that landed 60 metres from the Bulldogs goal. He followed up and picked up the loose ball, took a few steps and launched a kick from outside 50 that went through for a goal.
That’s how the superstar can rip teams apart and there’s no way to stop it.
A 2018 ESPN article on AFL trends explained the changing nature of Australian rules football, where roles like the ruckman who stand at 203 centimetres are asked to roam forward and play key positions.
“The AFL is transitioning towards a positionless game, with forwards and defenders covering more ground than ever before and sides playing non-traditional set-ups with smaller players often filling the once traditional key position posts,” Chris Doerre wrote.
Traditional roles still exist, but they come with shades of grey. Players are asked to do more. For example, a back pocket used to be more of a shut-down player, but now on top of that, they might be used as a rebounder that can kick goals.
There’s more flexibility in the AFL as to where a player can run and what a player can do now.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
In 2008, I remember Terry Wallace – call him a pioneer of the positionless player – sending Matthew Richardson on to a wing for large parts of that season.
The 197-centimetre forward looked out of place initially, but when he won the ball, it looked natural and begged the question: why not create a mismatch in areas where you need to win the ball? It made sense.
And here we are today with Bontempelli – 193 centimetres – playing as a regular on-baller.
Bontempelli’s length, athleticism and ball-handling make him the kind of player that can do almost anything.
He’s clean with the ball as if he’s picking up a round basketball off the floor. He’s a line-breaker and hard to match-up on. This makes him entertaining to watch.
He’s debunked criticism over his perceived inconsistency this year by producing a season with no ceiling in sight.
Everything about the way the 2016 premiership player goes about the game is entertaining and fascinating to watch. It’s like he has a switch he can flick to go into beast mode.
It’s only a matter of time before he wins a Brownlow Medal. That shouldn’t surprise anyone. He’s won two best-and-fairests at the Bulldogs, a premiership and a handful of other achievements.
And he’s only going to get better from here on in.
You get the feeling Bontempelli is still figuring out how to really bully teams and how he can be truly terrifying on a football field.
Think about his development in his 123 games and what the next 150-odd games will bring.
It’s only a matter of time before Bontempelli becomes the king of the AFL.
Jack A
Guest
Incorrect, I addressed a point that the author made, namely “no-one could stop Bont” - that’s pure hyperbole. Yeo has and he can. Gary Lyon is not a WC supporter and he believes that Yeo is the best player in the game, that alone debunks your position that ONLY WC supporters believe that he is. I don’t share that opinion btw, but he’s close and in the conversation. Please stop making straw man arguments.
IAP
Guest
Your point was that as a West Coast supporter you’re incapable of having a discussion about a player from a different team, so you changed the conversation to be about a West Coast player. The only people who think that Yeo is better than Bont are West Coast supporters; put your objective hat on and have a think about that.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Pumping Dougie,come on down
berrlins
Roar Pro
One thing not oft mentioned about Bont is he's not even 24, he hasn't even reached his prime and he is already ranked 6th best player in the comp. He'll be number 1 by the time he's 27
Jack A
Guest
You didn’t address my premise. My point was that head to head I believe that Yeo will beat Bont and you failed to address it. You’ve gone off on a tangent. Stats alone do not tell the full story. Nic Nat is indisputably one of the most influential and impactful players in the game but you won’t glean that fact from the stats. Quote from Fox: “Yeo is the fourth-rated player in the entire AFL since Round 7, having done the job on Lachie Neale, Tim Kelly, MARCUS BONTEMPELLI, Nat Fyfe and Patrick Cripps.” I haven’t checked those stats but let’s accept they are true! You’ve created a bit of a straw man. WC are 2nd on the ladder and reigning premiers. Dogs are 10th. WC is the better team and it is therefore more likely that Yeo would gather more of his possessions further up the ground than Bont. The weaker team is most likely to have the ball in their defensive half more often than the stronger team. Which goes some way to explaining why the Bont gets more ball in defence. WC’s defensive unit is elite, the Dogs isn’t. WC’s forward line is elite, the Dogs isn’t. The Dogs need more help from midfielders to fill those gaps. Each player has a role to play and that will also determine where he spends the majority of his time. Let’s address some stats that you didn’t. I’ll use the 2019 season. Last year was Yeo’s first year a midfielder. Goals Yeo - 11.5 Bont - 14.24 You claim that Bont has the better kicking efficiency but clearly not where it matters most. Yeo is ice cool in front of the sticks, Bont chokes. Tackles Yeo - 143 Bont - 84 Almost double. Inside 50 Yeo - 94 Bont - 105 Clearances Yeo - 109 Bont - 113 1 %’s Yeo - 49 Bont - 39 Many of these, and other numbers are very close. They are different players with different strengths and weaknesses, we’re splitting hairs. I believe that Yeo will beat Bont head to head more times than not. Bont is a great player and will surely take the points at times. I’d rather acknowledge them both as amongst the best players in the game because that’s what they are. That was my point.
another paul
Roar Rookie
Quite easily 15, they would have been a bottom 4 side last year without him and they definitely wouldn't have won the premiership without him, wouldn't have come close. He was second favourite for the Brownlow at the start of 2017 due to his 2016 form. His 2017 was still very good, finished 7th in the Brownlow, his 2018 was down due to playing most of the season with injuries and this year he has been phenomenal.
IAP
Guest
That's a serious slap-down! Of course, West Coast fans don't actually watch players from other teams so they're just going by what they read, which is mostly sycophantic WA media...
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
This may very well be the third year in a row that the Bulldogs don't make finals. The Dogs,therefore, have won less than thirty games in that period. How many of these,by your calculations,has Bontempelli won by his own efforts,i.e.goalkicking,goal assists, scoring prevention,nullifying the best opposition player etc.? Heaps? GMS.
another paul
Roar Rookie
Come on, 1 example does not a trend make, The Bont has won heaps of games over time for his team. He sparked the dogs in the third quarter to fight back, they were down by 7 goals at the time. Brisbane managed to up their intensity for the last quarter which then became even. All those players you mentioned have also failed to win specific games for their teams even when putting in herculean efforts, especially against quality opposition
another paul
Roar Rookie
That's all hearsay, I'll agree that Yeo is very good defensively, applying a lot of pressure but the Bont is no slouch in that department putting up good defensive pressure numbers. Also Bont helps out across the ground far more then yeo. Bont has played 1 more game and has 90 more disposals at comfortably better effeciencies. Plus 14.7% of Bont's possessions are in the defensive 50m and 13.7 in the offensive 50m compared to yeo's 11.1% in defense and 6.4% in offense. Clearly Shows that Bont is a greater 2 way runner. Throw in the offensive ratings and Bont slaughters almost everyone. He is rated elite in 6 of 7 categories, Yeo is only rated elite in 1 of 7. Kinda shows that Bont applies heaps of scoreboard pressure and Yeo only standard for a good midfielder So I take your premise that Yeo is more flexible and clearly show he isn't
Slane
Guest
https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_player_compare?playerStatus1=I&tid1=4&pid1=309&fid1=C&playerStatus2=A&tid2=8&pid2=3921&fid2=C&type=A
IAP
Guest
I reckon Yeo could leap tall buildings in a single bound if he put his mind to it.
John
Guest
Koutafides says hi
Boo
Guest
Dangerfield already got a Brownlow so what two medals is he not going to get.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
He’s a bit of a downhill skier though. Good, but not great.
Iambillbob
Roar Rookie
Not really he all ready has......nothing to prove.....danger will never get those 2 medals
Parkside Darren
Roar Rookie
Look out next year when the Carlton midfield depth has developed. Cripps will be put forward more regularly if not influencing.
Boo
Guest
Can't hold no Norm Smith against Dangerfield never played in a grand final.Undoubtedly ,2017 was the best ever individual year for a player in dusty s case. He has to play up to that level for the tigers to win the flag.
IAP
Guest
Because they can’t kick goals. That’s Bonts big weakness; he missed one from the goal square on Sunday.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Grundy,Gawn and ...,I would guess. For all that Macrae and Bontempelli were the best two players in the Lions/WB game according to some,the Lions won. How come? Fyfe and Shuey and Boak and Dangerfield and Martin win games for their team .