Marcus Bontempelli

[Topdog]

It worries me that we used pick 4 on someone we rate as a development player. Hoping that he makes us look smart in 10 years time.

This was my only early post. I didn't watch any U18's so couldn't comment on him as a player.

I guess you could say he made us look smart.

[1eyedog]

The years fly by pretty quickly.

Hard to believe Bont has been on our list for 8 years!

Hard to believe many of us have been on this forum for 14-15 years!

What a bastion for sensibility this place is.

[mjp]

But it is what kids actually do.

16 - 19 year old boys go through huge physical development, often in a very short time frame individually.

It seemed that Dalrymple really favoured those kids and often we were drafting the younger of those eligible.

Bont, Naughton, Bailey Smith all fit that category plus Bailey Williams, JJ and also Lewis Young

He placed a LOT of focus on the way players demonstrated what they learned at the champs when they returned to the 18's in late July and how they improved at the end of the year.

Believed that whilst the step-up in pressure/intensity didn't always IMMEDIATELY lead to improvement, the 'very best' kids would absorb the lessons and apply them...

[Mofra]

It's pretty amazing that a kid can improve that much, that quickly.

Clayton Oliver didn't even make the squad for champs but improved so much in the back half of the year he went at pick 4.
Going back further, Callan Ward came from nowhere and was drafted on his rate of improvement.

It looks like Sam Darcy is following that trend, although one draft watcher still thinks he projects best as a KPD at AFL level as he just doesn't quite get separation that other KPFs do.

[comrade]

Clayton Oliver didn't even make the squad for champs but improved so much in the back half of the year he went at pick 4.
Going back further, Callan Ward came from nowhere and was drafted on his rate of improvement.

It looks like Sam Darcy is following that trend, although one draft watcher still thinks he projects best as a KPD at AFL level as he just doesn't quite get separation that other KPFs do.

Yeah, it can happen but very, very rare to the extent Bont exploded and then went on with it. I would love to have seen the reaction if you told mjp after the champs that Bont may actually go down as the greatest Bulldog EVER.

[Ozza]

I think I've mentioned this before - but in 2014 I was at a Presidents dinner where an injured Matthew Boyd was being interviewed and described Bont as the 'most talented player he has seen walk into the club'. I think Bont may have only played 2-3 games at the time and it was definitely before the Melbourne match winner game.

[Mofra]

I think I've mentioned this before - but in 2014 I was at a Presidents dinner where an injured Matthew Boyd was being interviewed and described Bont as the 'most talented player he has seen walk into the club'. I think Bont may have only played 2-3 games at the time and it was definitely before the Melbourne match winner game.

McCarthy was very effusive about Macrae being an absolute gun from day dot - but was pretty much on the 'Bont will be better' bandwagon as soon as Marcus walked into the club.

[Twodogs]

I think I've mentioned this before - but in 2014 I was at a Presidents dinner where an injured Matthew Boyd was being interviewed and described Bont as the 'most talented player he has seen walk into the club'. I think Bont may have only played 2-3 games at the time and it was definitely before the Melbourne match winner game.

I was at that dinner and remember him saying that.

[AshMac]

But it is what kids actually do.

16 - 19 year old boys go through huge physical development, often in a very short time frame individually.

It seemed that Dalrymple really favoured those kids and often we were drafting the younger of those eligible.

Bont, Naughton, Bailey Smith all fit that category plus Bailey Williams, JJ and also Lewis Young

I used to walk into work and regularly pass Brendan Mccartney. I'd wear dogs tops and eventually said hi, thanked him for his contribution. We spoke pretty regularly for a few months and I would ask everything i could about the inner sanctum. He certainly wasnt shy sharing his views on players and in particular Peter Gordon.

Anyway - Bont came up one day and he told me that Dalrymple was resolute on Aish; BMac had to put his foot down and force Bont through. Said when he went out to watch him play juniors he was the best player he'd seen "since watching Gaz as a junior with Bomber Thompson"

Least that's the way he told it. twice.

[Happy Days]

Anyway - Bont came up one day and he told me that Dalrymple was resolute on Aish; BMac had to put his foot down and force Bont through. Said when he went out to watch him play juniors he was the best player he'd seen "since watching Gaz as a junior with Bomber Thompson"

Least that's the way he told it. twice.

Lmao of course he was.

I don’t doubt that he told you this. I just doubt that it, you know, happened.

[bornadog]

Lmao of course he was.

I don’t doubt that he told you this. I just doubt that it, you know, happened.

He does pump his own tyres.

[bulldogtragic]

He does pump his own tyres.

Someone has to. I don’t know anyone who would.

[Twodogs]

Lmao of course he was.

I don’t doubt that he told you this. I just doubt that it, you know, happened.

I'm not the only one then?

[Happy Days]

You may have heard about the 2016 premiership, but I bet you haven’t heard about all of the players one by one ringing B-Mac in the rooms immediately after the game to tell him that he’s the best coach any of them ever played for and that he was responsible for the flag and that he’s also a very cool and handsome guy.

[Twodogs]

You may have heard about the 2016 premiership, but I bet you haven’t heard about all of the players one by one ringing B-Mac in the rooms immediately after the game to tell him that he’s the best coach any of them ever played for and that he was responsible for the flag and that he’s also a very cool and handsome guy.

It's that school teacher coolness he has going for him.