THERE is little doubt that Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is in the top echelon of the AFL\u2019s best players.<\/p>\n
With four All-Australians, an AFLCA Champion Player award, AFL MVP and a premiership to his name, there\u2019s no doubting the midfielder\u2019s greatness.<\/p>\n
While he\u2019s clearly amongst the competition\u2019s elite, Bontempelli is still driven to improve and aged 27, he\u2019s now in his prime years to reach his peak.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the 2023 season, the star Bulldog was asked whether he had a goal in mind of being considered the competition\u2019s number one player this campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt it\u2019s part of my make-up for sure to be playing the best football I can possibly and hopefully be in the conversation for that,\u201d he said on SEN’s Whateley.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not like I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m confident if I can execute all of the things I know I\u2019m capable of, the rest of the conversations will handle themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a number of bloody good players out there at the minute, so it\u2019s a hot contest for whoever is considered with that sort of title.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just keen for us to start the season well.\u201d<\/p>\n
With team success his main focus, Bontempelli\u2019s energy is set on tackling a difficult start to the season.<\/p>\n
Fixtures against Melbourne, Brisbane, Richmond, Port Adelaide and Fremantle start 2023, but the Dogs\u2019 skipper is embracing his side\u2019s tricky opening stretch.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn a way, it forces us to go in with a really sharp focus and with a hardened edge knowing you\u2019re coming up against a bunch of the form teams in the competition,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI like that, I like the idea of getting straight to it on the back of a pre-season.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s see where we sit and try and execute against some of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bontempelli and the Bulldogs\u2019 first challenge comes against the red-hot Demons at the MCG on 18 March.<\/p>\n