By Scott Spits
The Western Bulldogs have suffered a massive blow on the eve of the season, losing captain and star player Marcus Bontempelli for at least the next six weeks with a calf injury.
Scans revealed that Bontempelli sustained a “complex” calf injury in Thursday’s practice match against Hawthorn.
Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli.Credit: Getty Images
The 29-year-old came off the field during the first quarter against the Hawks due to tightness in the muscle, with scans on Friday revealing the extent of the damage.
“While the club was optimistic of a positive result overnight, scans have revealed a complex injury with tendon involvement,” said Bulldogs head of sports medicine Chris Bell in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the structures involved with this particular injury are prone to having recurrent issues, so we will need to follow a conservative management timeline to give Marcus the best chance of a successful season.”
According to the Bulldogs’ statement, “Bontempelli is expected to miss at least the next six weeks, with a return to play plan to be finalised in coming days.”
The injury is a massive blow for the Bulldogs, who would aim to back up last year’s elimination final against Hawthorn with another top-eight finish in 2025.
The top-shelf talent on the sidelines for the Dogs includes Adam Treloar (calf), Cody Weightman (knee) and defender Liam Jones (hamstring). Young star and former No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is also unavailable due to personal reasons. Laitham Vandermeer is also expected to enter concussion protocols after copping a heavy hit against Hawthorn.
The Dogs clash with North Melbourne in round one on March 15.
Bontempelli has been a picture of consistency over his 240-game, 11-season career, rarely sidelined with injury or illness.
In the past four seasons, he has played 26, 22, 23 and 24 matches respectively. Further, in the club’s famous drought-breaking 2016 premiership year, the then young star played 26 matches.
His calf injury will completely reshape predictions for the Brownlow Medal, the prized individual AFL award that Bontempelli is yet to win but regularly features close to the top of the leaderboard of.
Blues showcase depth in impressive hitout
An undermanned Carlton warmed up for their 2025 campaign with an impressive 18.16 (124) to 9.12 (66) win over Greater Western Sydney in their pre-season hitout in Canberra on Friday night.
With star pair Charlie Curnow and Sam Walsh on the sidelines for the clash, Harry McKay taken off after the main break, and Mitch McGovern leaving the field with an ankle complaint late in the second term, some of the Blues’ lesser lights were presented with a chance to shine and make their cases for inclusion in the club’s best 23.
Mitch McGovern tweaked his ankle in the Blues’ pre-season win over the Giants.Credit: Getty Images
Orazio Fantasia (two goals) had one of his best games in some time, father-son recruit Lucas Camporeale got plenty of the footy, and new Blue Nick Haynes was impressive against his former club.
Leading Giants Lachie Whitfield, Lachie Ash, Finn Callaghan and Josh Kelly were the top four possession-winners on the field at Manuka Oval, but the AFL’S orange army failed to make a sizable dint on the scoreboard, booting just nine goals. GWS were without a star of their own, tough midfielder Tom Green, but Carlton covered the absence of their missing players better than their New South Wales opponents.
Carlton spearhead McKay was put in cotton wool after half-time, robbing fans of seeing any more of his battle with gun Giants defender Sam Taylor. Taking McKay off appeared to be merely a prudent move 13 days before Carlton’s first official game, and they also took no risks with McGovern, who appeared to jar his ankle late in the first half.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
One oft-discussed player wasn’t even on the field in Canberra. Carlton star Curnow, who had a screw removed from his knee last week, is tracking well to play early in the season, but Blues coach Michael Voss is unsure whether that will happen in round one.
“He’ll be pretty close,” Voss told Fox Footy pre-match about Curnow’s chances of playing against Richmond. “At the same time, we’ll give him whatever time he needs as well.
“We tend to put so much focus on round one, and then six days later round two turns up.
“We’ll be really mindful of that. The thing we have got is that we’ll play a really fit group of players. We’ve been able to get a large body of the work done.
“As you know, it’s high intensity in those early rounds. You need them fit and firing.
“But he is tracking pretty well.”
KEY PLAYERS
Carlton’s “third tall” Brodie Kemp had an eye-catching match. With Curnow watching on and McKay sitting on the bench in the second half, suddenly the 23-year-old Blue had the forward line to himself and the chance to indulge. Kemp was an excellent marking target and finished with three goals. That will please Carlton fans.
Lachlan Cowan had a strong pre-season showing against the Giants.Credit: Getty Images
Blues skipper Patrick Cripps purred along through the match, but didn’t have the same impact to match his exacting high standards. Cripps finished with 18 possessions, down the list and behind teammates including Adam Cerra, defender Adam Saad, Haynes and Lucas Camporeale. Jack Silvagni had a solid match, picking up 10 touches and seven marks in defence.
One of the Giants’ best and most important players, forward Jesse Hogan, booted three of the club’s eight goals, but it wasn’t a typically influential game from him. Instead, former No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman was a good forward option for the Giants.
WHAT’S NEXT
Carlton’s season-opener is also coming up fast – a traditional round one clash against Richmond in mid-March. While the AFL now begins its season with “opening round”, the Blues feature a few days later on a Thursday night at the MCG. Thursday matches feature heavily in the 2025 AFL fixture.
Greater Western Sydney, as one of the key clubs in the northern market, host Collingwood at Engie Stadium on Sunday week. It’s the fourth and final game in the AFL’s opening round line-up.
Gulden hurt against Suns in big blow for Swans
AAP
Errol Gulden is the latest star casualty in the AFL pre-season, with the Sydney midfielder suffering an ankle injury early in the Swans’ win over Gold Coast.
The dual All-Australian was tackled by Will Graham at People First Stadium on Friday night and his ankle twisted awkwardly under him.
Gulden was in agony as trainers helped him from the ground, amid speculation it could be a syndesmosis injury.
“It is disappointing ... he’s off getting some scans at the local hospital ... we won’t get those results back for another 24 hours. He’s in a bit of pain,” Swans football boss Leon Cameron told Fox Footy at half-time.
Gold Coast key position player Mac Andrew did not last the opening minute of the game, forced off with a chest injury after a collision in the first marking contest.
Suns teammates Charlie Ballard (ankle), David Swallow (knee) and Lachie Weller (hamstring) were also taken out of the game after they were hurt.
Gold Coast kicked the first three goals of the last quarter and pulled to within four points, but the Swans kicked clear with their own three-goal run to win 12.12 (84) to 8.15 (63).
Noah Anderson racked up a game-high 35 disposals.Credit: AFL Photos
Despite fielding an undermanned team, Sydney kicked the first four goals of the game and were never headed.
Former key defender Tom McCartin impressed in his new role as a forward, kicking four goals.
New Suns captain Noah Anderson racked up a game-high 35 disposals, with nine clearances.
The Suns had plenty of chances, but were wasteful in attack and losing Andrew at the start of the game clearly hampered their forward structure.
They did not kick a goal from late in the second term until early in the last.
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correction
A caption has been corrected after initially giving the wrong player’s name.