What will Bontempelli’s new deal look like?

WESTERN Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has said the club is hesitant on handing out long-term contracts as talks over Marcus Bontempelli’s new deal continue.

The Bulldogs captain is a restricted free agent at the end of the season and has started 2021 in sublime form, averaging 24 disposals and a goal a game.

“We’ll work through the length (of the deal),” Bains told SEN Mornings.

“We’ve been less inclined to go really, really long with our deals for both the sake of the club but also the player as well, a lot can change in time.

“As long as there’s the right sort of reference points or trigger points to come back and talk about the contractual position, it doesn’t necessarily require a long deal in one hit, it can be done along the way.”

Bains hopes the Bulldogs can announce a contract extension for their superstar midfielder in the “coming weeks”.

“There’s been ongoing dialogue across the whole year between Sam Power (list boss) and Tom Petroro – Marcus’ manager,” he said.

“Internally, Marcus is having conversations on a daily basis with key people in at the club. From our perspective, we are really comfortable that he is a committed Bulldogs player.

“Partly that’s the reason why we sit where we do right now.

“He was really strong on wanting to be the embodiment of our focus on starting the year really strongly, to make that the priority, and then to come back to those discussions.

“We’re really confident that we’ll get something done in the coming weeks and certainly now with the start that we’ve got, we’re hoping to get those talks ramped up in a bit more earnest over the next fortnight or so.”

Bontempelli, 25, is a three-time Charlie Sutton Medallist, triple All-Australian and premiership player in 2016.