Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

[Axe Man]

THE Western Bulldogs are prepared to gamble their prized No. 4 draft pick on raw midfielder Marcus Bontempelli.

The Herald Sun believes the Dogs have cooled on dual-premiership Norwood star James Aish, a slick outside midfielder widely considered a top-three lock all season.

The domino effect could see Aish fall to Gold Coast (pick 5) or Collingwood (6).

Fellow South Australian Matthew Scharenberg, who is nursing bone-stress reactions in both feet, is also in the mix for the Pies at No. 6 and Brisbane Lions (7).

Bontempelli has polarised recruiters with some calling him the biggest boom or bust prospect in the first round.

His dynamic gamestyle has been likened to Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury, with one recruiter rating the 194cm inside-outside midfielder the best player in the draft pool.

But the Herald Sun knows some clubs rank the cousin of North Melbourne's Nick Dal Santo as low as the 17th best player in the draft, given his inconsistencies this year.

The Dogs will finalise the call at a meeting this afternoon on the Gold Coast.

Bontempelli averaged 14 disposals and 67 SuperCoach points for Vic Metro this year before storming into top-five calculations with a brilliant finish to the season.

Top pair and Metro teammates Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly, who are headed to the Giants, averaged 109 and 137 respectively.

Bontempelli has the versatility to play almost any position with his supreme cleanness and vision among his standout attributes.

In half of Bontempelli's Northern Knights games he collected at least 20 disposals and booted multiple goals.

But the Dogs swing away from the classy Aish comes as a surprise with some experts believing the SANFL gun would complement their growing band of inside midfielders.

The Herald Sun revealed on Saturday the Demons had flown Scharenberg to Melbourne and requested the AFL commission last-minute scans on his feet.

At least two clubs are believed to have since ruled out using their first pick on him.

"It's frustrating, but as long as it gets better, I suppose,'' the Brendon Goddard-type said at last month's draft combine.

"It started happening towards the end of nationals. It was a bit ongoing and then it got a bit worse, so it was a bit of an overuse injury which needed some rest to get it back to 100 per cent.''

But South Australian talent manager Brenton Phillips warned clubs would rue passing up Scharenberg.

"I wouldn't let Aish or Scharenberg get past (pick) three or four," Phillips said.

The Western Bulldogs are prepared to pass up SANFL star James Aish for raw midfielder Marcus Bontempelli

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

He is one of the babies of the draft, only turning 18 in a few days time. Along with his perceived ability to currently/in the future play multiple positions, I wonder whether he's interviewed and tested well on leadership capabilities?

With his age, maybe he's seen as a future leader for the next level of players to come through the following 3 or 4 drafts?

[Remi Moses]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

This is going to be a successful boom, or an awful bust.
I guess we'll come back to this in 2 years

[ledge]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

I see Garlett has been passed over again by both Port and the Crows , statement being talent isn't everything, seems he hasn't pulled back on his outside footy life reading into that.

[Mofra]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

He is one of the babies of the draft, only turning 18 in a few days time. Along with his perceived ability to currently/in the future play multiple positions, I wonder whether he's interviewed and tested well on leadership capabilities?

He's picked his cousin Dal Santo's brain, not surprised Bonts interviewed well if he knows what AFL clubs are likely to want to hear

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

He's picked his cousin Dal Santo's brain, not surprised Bonts interviewed well if he knows what AFL clubs are likely to want to hear

Pulling the wool, or smart young footballer getting a head start Mofra?

[Bornadog]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

mmmm..... another risky pick, lets hope someone knows what they are doing.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

It's no certainty, we have changed our minds before close to the draft.
They all interview well you'd imagine, the boom bust bit scares the crap out of me .

[Remi Moses]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

THE Western Bulldogs are prepared to gamble their prized No. 4 draft pick on raw midfielder Marcus Bontempelli.

The Herald Sun believes the Dogs have cooled on dual-premiership Norwood star James Aish, a slick outside midfielder widely considered a top-three lock all season.

The domino effect could see Aish fall to Gold Coast (pick 5) or Collingwood (6).

Fellow South Australian Matthew Scharenberg, who is nursing bone-stress reactions in both feet, is also in the mix for the Pies at No. 6 and Brisbane Lions (7).

Bontempelli has polarised recruiters with some calling him the biggest boom or bust prospect in the first round.

His dynamic gamestyle has been likened to Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury, with one recruiter rating the 194cm inside-outside midfielder the best player in the draft pool.

But the Herald Sun knows some clubs rank the cousin of North Melbourne's Nick Dal Santo as low as the 17th best player in the draft, given his inconsistencies this year.

The Dogs will finalise the call at a meeting this afternoon on the Gold Coast.

Bontempelli averaged 14 disposals and 67 SuperCoach points for Vic Metro this year before storming into top-five calculations with a brilliant finish to the season.

Top pair and Metro teammates Tom Boyd and Josh Kelly, who are headed to the Giants, averaged 109 and 137 respectively.

Bontempelli has the versatility to play almost any position with his supreme cleanness and vision among his standout attributes.

In half of Bontempelli's Northern Knights games he collected at least 20 disposals and booted multiple goals.

But the Dogs swing away from the classy Aish comes as a surprise with some experts believing the SANFL gun would complement their growing band of inside midfielders.

The Herald Sun revealed on Saturday the Demons had flown Scharenberg to Melbourne and requested the AFL commission last-minute scans on his feet.

At least two clubs are believed to have since ruled out using their first pick on him.

"It's frustrating, but as long as it gets better, I suppose,'' the Brendon Goddard-type said at last month's draft combine.

"It started happening towards the end of nationals. It was a bit ongoing and then it got a bit worse, so it was a bit of an overuse injury which needed some rest to get it back to 100 per cent.''

But South Australian talent manager Brenton Phillips warned clubs would rue passing up Scharenberg.

"I wouldn't let Aish or Scharenberg get past (pick) three or four," Phillips said.

The Western Bulldogs are prepared to pass up SANFL star James Aish for raw midfielder Marcus Bontempelli

Those quotes from Brenton Phillips could come back to haunt us

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

This title initially scared the crap out of me! Love the look of Billings/Aish but given the job our recruiting staff have done in the last two years I'm happy to back them in to make the right call. To be fair, every kid that nominates for the draft comes with no guarantee they'll cut it in the AFL. Let's go big Bonts!

[soupman]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

This title initially scared the crap out of me!

Stupid title really. Every pick is a gamble.

Bontempelli is someone I've not been too keen on, but willing to back the club in to make the right call. At least, unlike clubs like Melbourne, we can be confident that he will be in the right environment to make the absolute most of his potential, so if he's going to make it with anyone, it'll be us.

[Mofra]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

Pulling the wool, or smart young footballer getting a head start Mofra?

The second option would be a very kind way of putting it.

I hope interviews rank a fair way down the list of reasons to select a draftee.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

Stupid title really. Every pick is a gamble.

Bontempelli is someone I've not been too keen on, but willing to back the club in to make the right call. At least, unlike clubs like Melbourne, we can be confident that he will be in the right environment to make the absolute most of his potential, so if he's going to make it with anyone, it'll be us.

Love the bolded bit and I agree.

It's great to be able to say that, because not too long ago we were poor at developing our players and always looked upon Sydney with envy.

We have a long way to go obviously, but I rate our player development pretty high now and that should improve with our own VFL side.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

Melbourne have had a swag of these top 8 draft picks and look where they have ended up?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs prepared to gamble pick 4

Just checked out a heap more footage of Bonts over on Bigfooty and I've gotta say, I'm feeling much more comfortable with the idea of picking him.