Whateley Whateley in a Snapshot | Tuesday (24.02.26)
Feb 24, 2026
Marcus Bontempelli, elite AFL footballer and Western Bulldogs captain, reflects on team structure and fixing defensive transition. He outlines personnel tweaks and roles like Connor Butterick. Short, punchy takes on preparation and aims for the upcoming seasons.
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Bulldogs Transition Defence Is The Key Fix
- Marcus Bontempelli says the Bulldogs' main issue was defence in transition, not scoring, visible across the season and in key losses.
- He targets a 10–20% improvement via systematic tweaks rather than wholesale changes to fix close margins.
Systematic Team Defence Over Single Personnel
- Marcus Bontempelli highlights systematic team defence and midfield/forward support as the route to improvement, not relying solely on key defenders.
- He cites Connor Butterick and James O'Donnell's growth as specific steps toward better craft and size.
Match The Market To Keep Your Young Stars
- Sam Edmund argues clubs must follow market pricing to retain elite talent, even if long deals feel large.
- He notes Carlton signed Sam Walsh pre-season for eight years because the alternative was losing him.