Marcus Bontempelli sets his target on more goals this season

WESTERN Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli is determined to spend more time as an offensive weapon this season but knows he must first rectify his wayward goalkicking.

Marcus Bontempelli was mega popular at an Auskick day at Federation Square. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

MARCUS Bontempelli says he is determined to spend more time as an offensive weapon in the Western Bulldogs’ attacking set-up this year.

But first he must rectify last year’s wayward finishing after a season where he and the Bulldogs kicked themselves out of too many contests.

The star Bulldog played 32 per cent of game time as a forward last year, continuing that pattern in the Dogs’ impressive JLT Series win over Hawthorn on Saturday.

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Last year he kicked 20.29 and the Dogs, who finished the season at 11-11, kicked more goals than points in only eight of 22 games.

Against the Hawks, Bontempelli was a continual forward target in an attacking set-up that also included defensive regular Easton Wood.

A Dogs side that had 10 goal kickers kicked six goals straight in the first quarter, even if Bontempelli could manage only 0.2 for the game.

Bontempelli, 21, said he was excited about the prospect of a season where he will mix more time forward with midfield shifts.

Marcus Bontempelli wants to improve his goalkicking this season. Picture: Getty Images

Sporting a bandaged knee courtesy of a minor corky at the launch of the 2018 Auskick program, Bontempelli told the Herald Sun said he couldn’t wait for Round 1.

“Hopefully I can kick a bit straighter this year. I am looking forward to spending more time forward and getting more looks at the goals,’’ he said.

“We have put a bit of work in from a goalkicking point of view. It was a little reward how we started yesterday with 6.0.

“For me it’s continuing to explore other parts of my game and working on accuracy and goalkicking is a given.

“It’s a bit of everything — routine, technique. We need to continue to find new avenues to score with defences being so tough to play against.”

Bontempelli, with his left knee bandaged, at the launch of the 2018 Auskick program. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

As well as talls Jordan Roughead and Jackson Trengove, the Dogs played a host of smaller leading targets against the Hawks, and raised eyebrows starting Wood forward.

Bontempelli said even if Wood’s new position was a surprise to fans, the multiple small attacking options wasn’t a departure from Luke Beveridge’s methodology.

“That’s how we have always played. It’s a strength of the group and Bevo’s desire to want players to move around and be strong in multiple positions.

“It was nice to see some of what we are working on come out.

“The new boys fitted in beautifully, by the way they played yesterday it almost looked like they had played with us for four or five years.

“For (Easton) to be able to flip forward, it gives us a real boost to know there is someone of his capabilities and leadership and energy down there.”

Aaron Naughton, a 194cm key defender taken at pick nine in last year’s national draft by the Dogs last year, seemed comfortable enough to push hard for a Round 1 debut.

“I don’t make those decisions but I think we are all comfortable enough with how he’s going at the minute,” Bontempelli said.

“He reads the flight incredibly well, he takes a nice intercept mark, he was influential yesterday and who knows when he could slot in? It could be early.”