AFL Round 2: Marcus Bontempelli leads Western Bulldogs to victory over West Coast in classic

Take a bow, Bont. The Bulldogs skipper was supreme all day and delivered the final blow in an absolute classic against the Eagles.

Kane Pitman

3 min read

March 29, 2021 - 12:07AM

NCA NewsWire

Marcus Bontempelli celebrates a big goal. Picture: Michael Klein

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West Coast coach Adam Simpson said he was powerless to stop Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli in an early contender for game of the year.

Bontempelli capped a best-on-ground performance with a game-winning set shot from 35m out to seal a famous victory.

“We couldn’t control Bont, we tried to tag him in the second half, he’s a very good player,” Simpson lamented. “We always knew if we shut one down someone else will pop up. It was a challenge for us, but I don’t think we took a backward step after halftime.”

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge praised his captain’s composure in a frantic finish.

“That coolness under pressure and understanding the stage of the game and (taking) seconds off the clock at that point is pretty important,” Beveridge said

“He showed great composure to be able to do that.

“He’s done it before Marcus; he’s lifted us.”

Marcus Bontempelli was unstoppable when it mattered most. Picture: Michael Klein

It was a case of accumulation versus execution with the ball-hog Bulldogs finally putting a winning score on the board against a relentless Eagles outfit.

The Dogs controlled the disposal count 233-163 in the first half and Bontempelli was the chief destroyer, but despite the skipper’s extraordinary start the home team led by just one point as the Eagles held firm under repeat fire.

With superstar ruckman Nic Naitanui gaining control, three consecutive third-quarter goals in time on helped turn ascendancy the Eagles way with a classy Liam Ryan finish from 40m on the run giving his side a 12-point lead with a quarter to play.

In a rollercoaster final quarter the lead changed several times before Bontempelli sent the home crowd into a frenzy to put a bow on a 30-disposal, three-goal afternoon.

Bulldog Laitham Vandermeer charges past Andrew Gaff on the way to kicking a crucial final-quarter goal. Picture: Michael Klein

Overall, the Bulldogs led the disposal count 407-312, using the ball at 81.3 per cent efficiency for the afternoon.

“You’ve got to get close to breaking even,” Simpson said. “To play your way to have to be competitive. As much as our guys seemed to be trying, they weren’t trying hard enough.”

For the 2-0 Dogs, the heart-stopping win sets up a Good Friday afternoon clash against the winless Kangaroos, with Beveridge determined to stamp out any complacency as his squad looks to establish themselves as genuine contenders for the 2021 premiership.

“Our players understand the challenge in front of them. It’s got to be your will to treat any team similarly. We play in such a tough competition and we go from playing Collingwood and the West Coast to playing the Kangaroos who haven’t had the best start to the year, but our mindset can’t change. It needs to stay exactly the same.”

Liam Ryan with the footwork!#AFLDogsEagles pic.twitter.com/vGLJ6PvAlq
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 28, 2021

FLYIN’ RYAN TAKES OFF

The mercurial Liam Ryan was up to his old tricks in the first term.
Jamie Cripps found the small forward streaming inside 50 with the goal face open. Marking the ball 15m out on a difficult angle with Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner in hot pursuit, Ryan immediately played on, stepping left and then right, sending Gardner to the deck before strolling in for the simplest of goals.

In addition to the highlight reel goal, Ryan attempted three high-flying screamers that would have surely won him a car for Mark of the Year. You simply can’t take your eyes off flyin’ Ryan.

Liam Ryan couldn’t hang on to this spectacular attempt. Picture: Michael Klein

LIPINSKI’S COSTLY BLUNDER

With the Dogs dominating play for the first half of the second quarter, Patrick Lipinski committed a classic coach-killer. When Jamaine Jones was awarded a free kick on centre wing for contact in a marking contest, Lipinski picked up the ball and subsequently dropped it, triggering an immediate 50m penalty that Jones would convert to put the Eagles in front by a point.

Lipinski came straight to the bench before being handed the phone. We can safely assume the message from frustrated coach Luke Beveridge was a stern one.

Adam Treloar wins the ball under pressure from Tom Cole. Picture: Michael Klein

650 FOR KENNEDY

West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy’s 650th AFL goal came in trademark fashion. When Nic Naitanui pumped the ball long inside 50 at the 21-minute mark of the second quarter, Kennedy came flying to the front of the pack to pluck the ball uncontested before calmly slotting his third major for the half.

Kennedy would finish the afternoon with four goals and eight score involvements.