Bontempelli on being considered the AFL’s best

THERE is little doubt that Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is in the top echelon of the AFL’s best players.

With four All-Australians, an AFLCA Champion Player award, AFL MVP and a premiership to his name, there’s no doubting the midfielder’s greatness.

While he’s clearly amongst the competition’s elite, Bontempelli is still driven to improve and aged 27, he’s now in his prime years to reach his peak.

Ahead of the 2023 season, the star Bulldog was asked whether he had a goal in mind of being considered the competition’s number one player this campaign.

“There’s no doubt it’s part of my make-up for sure to be playing the best football I can possibly and hopefully be in the conversation for that,” he said on SEN’s Whateley.

“It’s not like I’m setting out every single morning with that sort of appetite but it is something you want to embrace – the conversation, being there, being a part of it, impacting the game for my mob as best as I possibly can.

“I’m confident if I can execute all of the things I know I’m capable of, the rest of the conversations will handle themselves.

“There’s a number of bloody good players out there at the minute, so it’s a hot contest for whoever is considered with that sort of title.

“I’m just keen for us to start the season well.”

With team success his main focus, Bontempelli’s energy is set on tackling a difficult start to the season.

Fixtures against Melbourne, Brisbane, Richmond, Port Adelaide and Fremantle start 2023, but the Dogs’ skipper is embracing his side’s tricky opening stretch.

“In a way, it forces us to go in with a really sharp focus and with a hardened edge knowing you’re coming up against a bunch of the form teams in the competition,” he said.

“I like that, I like the idea of getting straight to it on the back of a pre-season.

“Let’s see where we sit and try and execute against some of the best.”

Bontempelli and the Bulldogs’ first challenge comes against the red-hot Demons at the MCG on 18 March.

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN