AFL: Western Bulldogs back Adam Treloar to bounce back from semi-final stinker

Their captain is racing the clock to get up for this week and a star midfielder has to rebound from a shocker, but all the vibes are positive at the Bulldogs.

Jack Macrae says the Bulldogs aren’t a one-man team. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Western Bulldogs are not making plans for tackling Port Adelaide without superstar skipper Marcus Bontempelli and have backed Adam Treloar to bounce back from his semi-final shocker on Saturday.

Jack Macrae took Treloar’s share of the workload, and then some, in an epic 39-disposal effort in the one-point win over the Lions last weekend that progressed the Bulldogs to a preliminary final showdown with Port.

Treloar, who missed 10 games during the middle of the season with an ankle injury, has come under fire for his lacklustre effort, returning just 10 touches, his lowest return for the season. At times he even appeared to “give up” according to some critics who pointed to poor body language from the former Magpie.

Macrae, who leads the Gary Ayres Medal for the best finals player after earning a perfect 10 votes, said none of Treloar’s teammates thought he did anything but his best.

Adam Treloar is under the pump. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

While the returns weren’t there last weekend, Macrae said Treloar wouldn’t be down for long.

“There’s so much going on in a game I didn’t see any of that (poor body language),” Macrae said on Tuesday.

“The form that (Treloar) was in in the first 10 weeks of the season before he hurt his ankle was some of the best footy that he’s ever played, and he was just amazing for our team, so I’m backing him to get back into that form.

“He’s been a class player his whole career and you don’t just lose that overnight.

“We’re all going to back him in to get back to his best and hopefully that comes Saturday night.”

Bontempelli, named the AFL Players Association MVP last week, is racing the clock to be fit to tackle Port on Saturday after hurting his knee against the Lions.

The skipper was on the bench in the frantic final few minutes, but scans on Monday revealed no structural damage.

Macrae, an All-Australian midfielder this year, said Bontempelli would do everything required to be ready for the game.

Marcus Bontempelli is no certainty to face Port. Picture: Michael Klein

“He hasn’t missed a game in four years,” Macrae said.

“He’s one of the most professional players I have seen. He’s going to give himself every chance. A 50 per cent Bont is better than most of the competition anyway if I am being honest.

“We re not going to take any silly risks, but I’d give him every chance.”

But Macrae also said the Bulldogs were not a “one player” team.

“We are not preparing for him not to play. Later in the week we might have to have those conversations,” he said.,

“We don’t rely on one player. As much as Bont is an absolute superstar, we back ourselves as a group.

“We’ve had injuries to different players and as a group we’ve all stepped up and covered for certain players that have missed at times.”

Macrae said he expected ruckman Tim English to spend more time in the ruck this week after playing a leading role in the second half against the Lions after time forward early.

A return for fellow ruckman Stefan Martin from injury, however, remains a “bridge too far”.