Whether Marcus Bontempelli is the greatest Western Bulldogs player of all time is a big and increasingly compelling question. Let’s break it down.
🏅 Case for Bontempelli as the Greatest Bulldog:
- Individual Achievements:
- 5× All-Australian (2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023)
- Charles Sutton Medal (club Best & Fairest): 5 times and counting
- AFLPA MVP (Leigh Matthews Trophy) in 2021
- AFLCA Champion Player of the Year (2021)
- Multiple top-3 Brownlow finishes (2nd in 2021, 3rd in 2023)
- Captaincy & Leadership:
- Appointed captain at age 23 (2019), one of the youngest in club history.
- Widely respected across the league for leadership, professionalism, and impact.
- Team Success:
- 2016 Premiership player – critical during that finals run as a young gun.
- Has kept the Bulldogs competitive through several team transitions.
- Longevity & Consistency:
- Still in his prime in 2025, Bontempelli has been a top-tier player for nearly a decade.
🐾 Contenders for the Title:
- Ted Whitten
- Known as “Mr. Football”, 321 games, 5x Best & Fairest, captain-coach, enormous cultural impact.
- Played when media and awards were more limited, but his influence is legendary.
- Chris Grant
- 341 games, 2x Best & Fairest, All-Australian, captain.
- Loyal, classy, and versatile – one of the club’s greatest servants.
- Brad Johnson
- 364 games (club record), 6× All-Australian, 3× Best & Fairest, long-time captain.
- Consistent forward/midfielder and club icon through tough eras.
⚖️ Verdict:
If Bontempelli continues his trajectory for a few more years — especially with another premiership or a Brownlow — he may well go down as the greatest Bulldog of all time.
As of mid-2025:
- He’s arguably already the best modern-era Bulldog, and
- Neck-and-neck with Ted Whitten overall, depending on how you weigh influence, eras, and legacy.
