Beveridge defends Bontempelli as Bulldogs weigh up ‘huge risk’ at selection

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has leapt to the defence of Marcus Bontempelli, declaring the captain’s fellow midfielders need to regain the “cohesion” they had earlier in the season in order to allow Bontempelli to again flourish.

The Bulldogs have much to think about heading into Sunday’s elimination final against Essendon in Launceston.

Marcus Bontempelli and his Western Bulldogs teammates following their loss to Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.Credit:Getty Images

While they venture into the post season stung by having lost three straight matches and the double chance, tumbling from top of the ladder to fifth, Beveridge insisted on Tuesday that “everything changes” and the “game becomes a little bit different” now. But there are significant issues to address, including how to re-establish the dominance Bontempelli had while emerging as a Brownlow Medal favourite.

The gold-standard impact Bontempelli had has slipped in the past month, prompting Essendon great Matthew Lloyd to describe him as “really poor” in the loss to Port Adelaide on Friday. Bontempelli had only 15 touches, as he did against the Crows in round 20, and while he did have 34 against the Bombers a week later and 31 against the Hawks, he could not will his side to victory.

Beveridge said the Bulldogs had closely studied film of their champion midfielder.

“When we do, we see Marcus trying to put out spot fires, trying to help defensively, compete in the air behind the ball, getting to the stoppage, working his butt off, trying to create offensive opportunities. He is working the house down for the team,” Beveridge said on Tuesday.

“I think his effect on the game and his influence is symptomatic of how that whole group is playing together, the chemistry, the cohesion that we established earlier in the year, we haven’t been able to re-establish it as yet. This game is a glaring opportunity for us to get that closer to the mark than it has been. That will help his game, there is no doubt about that, because you spread the load.”

Where the Dogs’ quick hands and run from stoppages had terrorised sides, opponents have been able to shut this down – Beveridge’s men falling from being the league best in average clearance differential from rounds 1-20, to 12th from rounds 21-23.

Tom Liberatore was beaten by Willem Drew last week, while Lloyd added Josh Dunkley “looks lost” and said the pressure was also on Beveridge, for outside of the magical 2016 premiership run, the Dogs had lost three elimination finals under the coach.

Beveridge appears to have grown tired of the constant questioning about the ruck issue, and said it would be a “huge risk” to recall the robust Stef Martin. The former Lion was a key piece in the Bulldogs’ surge earlier this season but has yet to regain full match fitness after a groin injury. He has had only one major training session, and a practice match last weekend with reduced minutes.

“There is a clear lack of understanding of our game in the commentary from the public domain. What do you think happens if we put a player out there that can’t run the game out?” Beveridge said.

“The pressure that he puts on his teammates, the probability that we can’t get to the line as a group, that’s the biggest consideration. It’s not whether Stef can turn up to stoppages and stand there and try and get his hand on the ball.

“If we pick Stefan, we are taking a big risk. I am not saying we won’t. There is a chance we might. “But, ultimately, the overall consideration needs to be pressing to the line, four full quarters of combative footy against an Essendon side that has some momentum.”

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.Credit:AFL Photos

The inexperienced Lewis Young was crunched by Scott Lycett last week, and the undersized Mitch Hannan and Bontempelli were asked to help out, allowing Tim English, the best of the big men, to spend the night as a forward now Josh Bruce is out for the season. Jordon Sweet, having played the last of his five matches in round 11, could return this weekend.

The Bombers sparked the Dogs’ late-season demise with a 13-point win in round 21 at Marvel Stadium, Peter Wright booting seven goals for the Dons in his breakout performance. Beveridge said the Bulldogs had to negate the 203-centimetre Wright in the air, while acknowledging Jake Stringer, the former Bulldogs premiership player, had been central to the Bombers’ rise.

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