Luke Beveridge defends star Marcus Bontempelli over bump that hurt Nick Haynes

Luke Beveridge has urged commentators critical of Marcus Bontempelli’s $2000 fine for a bump that left an opponent with a fractured larynx to watch the incident again.

Marcus Bontempelli is seen during a Western Bulldogs training session.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has hit out at the commentary this week surrounding the controversial non-suspension of his superstar Marcus Bontempelli.

The Brownlow Medal fancy this week escaped a possible two-week suspension because of a missing medical report.

Bontempelli’s high hit on Nick Haynes has left the GWS defender with a fractured larynx, an injury that could keep Haynes sidelined for up to a month.

The Giants seethed after the incident was assessed without a medical report, which likely would have seen Bontempelli’s fine upgraded to a two-week ban.

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Beveridge said on Thursday he was surprised at the outcry, arguing Bontempelli had no case to answer.

“The injury is a tragedy and disappointing for Nick, but in the incident there was no malice and there was no intent,” Beveridge said.

“So the penalty has been handed down purely on the outcome and the injury to Nick, and I’ve always argued that should never be the case.

“It should be whether there was intent from the player coming in.

“Marcus’s intent was to close down space and to pressure, and at no stage did he try to clean him up.”

Marcus Bontempelli collects Giants defender Nick Haynes. Picture: Fox Footy

Beveridge urged commentators to re-watch the incident, arguing Haynes took his kick “extremely late” and his momentum took him into Bontempelli, who he said at that stage had “virtually stopped.”

“We’ve moved on but the commentary around it, I think one or two have not gone and looked at it properly,” he said.

“If they do they would realise what actually happened and maybe they jump on the other side, but I understand there would be some sympathy for Nick and we’ve got that, too.

“We hope he recovers well and he’s going to be OK, but the penalty was handed down based on the outcome of a physical injury.”

Marcus Bontempelli at Western Bulldogs training on Thursday.

Beveridge confirmed ruckman Tim English will return in Sunday’s must-win clash against Adelaide in Ballarat.

He also said he was “not sure” if Tom Liberatore (knee) would return should the Bulldogs make the finals, but Mitch Wallis (ankle) is very unlikely to play again this year.

There is plenty of buzz surrounding the in-form Bulldogs, but Beveridge urged his players and supporters to focus on the job ahead of them.

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“I’ve tried to calm a few of them (the supporters) down too, because we’re not there yet,” he said.

“We’ve got to win this week and we don’t want to leave it in the hands of the gods and lose and hope for percentage.

“We’ve got to win this week, so the feeling around the place is, ‘We’ve come this far and it would be a bloody shame (to miss), and we need to keep our heads in it and just focus on beating Adelaide.’”