Marcus Bontempelli impressed with young Bulldogs, hails recruits
New Western Bulldogs Bailey Smith and Ben Cavarra could make their debuts as soon as Round 1 after impressing star vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli, who has also lauded the progression of ruckman Tim English.
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Western Bulldogs vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli is pleased with his team’s emerging talent with No.7 pick Bailey Smith and Ben Cavarra seemingly on track to debut in Round 1.
Bontempelli also lauded the progression of Tim English, suggesting the 205cm ruckman could be used as a key forward.
Tom Boyd (back) will not be fit to play for some time.
The baby Bulldogs fielded younger line-ups than their opposition in all 22 matches last season and have since lost another four premiership players.
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List manager Sam Power targeted a few mature-age players to help build the profile although it is teenager Smith who has dropped jaws at training since overcoming an Achilles problem.
Smith’s power and speed in match simulation has some thinking he could give this year’s Rising Star a shake.
“Athletically he’s incredible,” Bontempelli told the Herald Sun.
“He’ll develop as every young player does, but has shown some good things early. He’s a super pro.
“He’s right on top of his game from an off-field point of view and it shows on field, he’s got skill and the ability to move from contest to contest.
“That’s a great element he’s already got and now it’s just about putting the rest of it together.”
Cavarra, 23, boasted a glittering junior and VFL football resume but was overlooked in five drafts before the small forward was finally taken at No.45 last year.
“Benny’s been great,” Bontempelli said.
“Obviously he’s a mature-age draft pick who spent a lot of time at Williamstown.
“You can just tell he’s played in a senior football environment because of his skill and his ability around goals and his hardness and he’s got it, you can tell that.”
The 173cm left-footer topped Williamstown’s goalkicking in 2017-18 (66 goals in total) with his forward pressure and tackling suited to the modern game.
Cavarra is likely to help replace Luke Dahlhaus (Geelong) while father-son Rhylee West is also a chance to feature early in the season.
“There’s probably a few other players who haven’t come in just through this year’s draft but have scope to improve, like Tim English,” Bontempelli said.
“He still needs time in the game to develop, he’s only played nine games. It’s so important for us as leaders and also as older players to make sure they feel they’ve got time to develop and we’re not pushing them as such.
“But this pre-season he’s shown his game has grown again.
“It’s a bit of a battle for that No.1 ruck role, Jackson Trengove has been really good in that space all pre-season and he’s really shown he wants to play in the ruck and I think that’s a good thing.
“That’s helping Timmy because they’re both learning off each other as they go and Timmy’s been a really good prospect for us as a key forward.
“We’ll wait and see how that plays out but it’s a bit of a wait and see.”
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