WESTERN Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has said the club is hesitant on handing out long-term contracts as talks over Marcus Bontempelli\u2019s new deal continue.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll work through the length (of the deal),\u201d Bains told SEN Mornings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as there\u2019s the right sort of reference points or trigger points to come back and talk about the contractual position, it doesn\u2019t necessarily require a long deal in one hit, it can be done along the way.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bains hopes the Bulldogs can announce a contract extension for their superstar midfielder in the \u201ccoming weeks\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been ongoing dialogue across the whole year between Sam Power (list boss) and Tom Petroro \u2013 Marcus\u2019 manager,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cInternally, 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cPartly that\u2019s the reason why we sit where we do right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re really confident that we\u2019ll get something done in the coming weeks and certainly now with the start that we\u2019ve got, we\u2019re hoping to get those talks ramped up in a bit more earnest over the next fortnight or so.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bontempelli, 25, is a three-time Charlie Sutton Medallist, triple All-Australian and premiership player in 2016.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WESTERN Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has said the club is hesitant on handing out long-term contracts as talks over Marcus Bontempelli\u2019s 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. \u201cWe\u2019ll work […]<\/p>\n