Marcus Bontempelli claims third Charles Sutton Medal ahead of Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae

Marcus Bontempelli has etched himself into Western Bulldogs history with a third club best-and-fairest at the age of 23, joining former captains Brad Johnson and Matthew Boyd as a triple winner of the Charles Sutton Medal.

Marcus Bontempelli has won his third Charles Sutton Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

Western Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has won a third club best and fairest before the age of 24, capping a career-best 2019 season which has seen him showered in accolades.

The Bulldogs vice-captain, Bontempelli polled 299 votes in the Charles Sutton Medal count on Wednesday night to beat fellow on-ballers Josh Dunkley (270 votes) and Jack Macrae (268 votes).

The trio were standouts, with redounding defender Jason Johannisen (174 votes) placing a distant fourth.

It was Bontempelli’s fifth consecutive top-three finish and followed best-and-fairest wins in 2016 and 2017.

The 193cm onballer averaged career-high numbers in disposals (26.3 a game), metres gained (498 a game), clearances (six a game) and score involvements (7.3 a game).

Marcus Bontempelli has won his third Charles Sutton Medal. Picture: Michael Klein

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Bontempelli, who played all 23 games for the Bulldogs this year, also earnt All-Australian honours for a second time, was named the AFL Coaches’ Association Player of the Year and polled a career-best 22 votes in the Brownlow Medal.

Dunkley, who also played every game, averaged a career-high 28.3 disposals and 5.3 clearances in his fourth season, his second-placing coming after a fifth-placed finish last year.

Macrae, who was the top-ranked midfielder in the competition by Champion Data this year, averaged 33.3 disposals this year to score his third top-three finish in the best-and-fairest in as many years.

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Charles Sutton Medal voting — top 10

1st — Marcus Bontempelli (299)

2nd — Josh Dunkley (270)

3rd — Jack Macrae (268)

4th — Jason Johannisen (174)

5th — Caleb Daniel (164)

6th — Lachie Hunter (161)

7th — Easton Wood (160)

8th — Aaron Naughton (154)

9th — Sam Lloyd (153)

10th — Hayden Crozier (141)

Originally published as Marcus Bontempelli claims third Charles Sutton Medal ahead of Josh Dunkley and Jack Macrae