Latest news with #Bontempelli
Sky News AU
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL 2025; Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to start contract talks
There's no anxiety for Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who won't rush to sign a new contract but is ready to get 'rolling' on talks that will ramp up next week after a series of early season interruptions. One of the best players in the AFL, if not the best, Bontempelli, 29, is off contract in October and yet to ink his next deal despite the season reaching its halfway mark. Bontempelli's last contract was a four-year deal signed in 2021, but amid a changed landscape of longer contracts taking player commitments beyond 2030 for increased money, the six-time All-Australian remains unfazed by the lack of movement. Having endured a pre-season calf injury that delayed his entry to 2025 until round 7, Bontempelli put other matters, including his off-season engagement, ahead of contract talks. But now he's ready to get going and seal his future, which should come as welcome relief to Bulldogs fans. 'It's going well – obviously, it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up,' Bontempelli said. 'There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why – probably no different to other years – I took my time a little bit with it. 'But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well and truly get rolling with that.' The six-time best and fairest winner also played a straight bat when asked about reports that suggested Collingwood would launch an audacious bid to lure him to the Magpies. 'That information never really came to me at all, to be honest,' Bontempelli said. Things are stabilising at the Bulldogs with the return of troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to the club, and training this week, which excited the skipper who was reluctant to talk about a playing return. 'Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment,' he said. 'Hopefully, getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at playing again.' Originally published as Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to open contract talks next week
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Good things take time': Bont contract talks to begin
Marcus Bontempelli expects negotiations to go smoothly as talks finally ramp up on his next contract with the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain, one of the greatest players in the AFL club's history, said on Friday morning that talks will start in earnest next week. The delay in that process inevitably has led to speculation about the 29-year-old's future, but Bontempelli is giving no signs that is looking elsewhere. Coach Luke Beveridge noted this week that the star midfielder has had a lot on his plate this year - a pre-season calf injury, a marriage to plan and part-ownership of a Melbourne cafe. "It's going well - obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up," Bontempelli said. "There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why - probably no different to other years - I took my time a little bit with it. "But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well-and-truly get rolling with that. "I see it going quite smoothly." Likewise, he is pleased that troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club this week and is back training. But just as Beveridge won't predict when the former No.1 draft pick might play again, Bontempelli has no expectations about Ugle-Hagan's potential comeback. "Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment - hopefully getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at a playing again," Bontempelli said. Bontempelli's on-field output was quelled by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager in round 14, but the Bulldogs still won by 72 points. The 'Dogs captain was unfussed by the attention. "That is the big badge of honour, the big responsibility, you get sometimes," he said. "The opposition will pay you closer attention - it is a feather in your cap. "You have to look at that as a positive. Ultimately, in those scenarios you can look at it as an advantage and how you get a win in that area, by somewhat sacrificing your own game in the end for others to benefit." Bontempelli was at Marvel Stadium to help launch the 'Touch and Track' technology, designed to help blind people follow the game live. Blind footballer and keen Bulldogs fan Shaun Keath felt there was a missed opportunity on Friday. "I should have had a word with you earlier and got you to sign today - it would have been a great scoop," Keath said as he showed the system to Bontempelli. "I used it (Touch and Track) last week when The Bont flogged St Kilda and it was near-perfect, so it was great. "I don't need the headphones in all the time as well ... heaps more enjoyable." Touch and Track has been in development for a couple of years and Bontempelli noted "good things take time" - a bit like his contract talks. Marcus Bontempelli expects negotiations to go smoothly as talks finally ramp up on his next contract with the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain, one of the greatest players in the AFL club's history, said on Friday morning that talks will start in earnest next week. The delay in that process inevitably has led to speculation about the 29-year-old's future, but Bontempelli is giving no signs that is looking elsewhere. Coach Luke Beveridge noted this week that the star midfielder has had a lot on his plate this year - a pre-season calf injury, a marriage to plan and part-ownership of a Melbourne cafe. "It's going well - obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up," Bontempelli said. "There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why - probably no different to other years - I took my time a little bit with it. "But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well-and-truly get rolling with that. "I see it going quite smoothly." Likewise, he is pleased that troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club this week and is back training. But just as Beveridge won't predict when the former No.1 draft pick might play again, Bontempelli has no expectations about Ugle-Hagan's potential comeback. "Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment - hopefully getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at a playing again," Bontempelli said. Bontempelli's on-field output was quelled by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager in round 14, but the Bulldogs still won by 72 points. The 'Dogs captain was unfussed by the attention. "That is the big badge of honour, the big responsibility, you get sometimes," he said. "The opposition will pay you closer attention - it is a feather in your cap. "You have to look at that as a positive. Ultimately, in those scenarios you can look at it as an advantage and how you get a win in that area, by somewhat sacrificing your own game in the end for others to benefit." Bontempelli was at Marvel Stadium to help launch the 'Touch and Track' technology, designed to help blind people follow the game live. Blind footballer and keen Bulldogs fan Shaun Keath felt there was a missed opportunity on Friday. "I should have had a word with you earlier and got you to sign today - it would have been a great scoop," Keath said as he showed the system to Bontempelli. "I used it (Touch and Track) last week when The Bont flogged St Kilda and it was near-perfect, so it was great. "I don't need the headphones in all the time as well ... heaps more enjoyable." Touch and Track has been in development for a couple of years and Bontempelli noted "good things take time" - a bit like his contract talks. Marcus Bontempelli expects negotiations to go smoothly as talks finally ramp up on his next contract with the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain, one of the greatest players in the AFL club's history, said on Friday morning that talks will start in earnest next week. The delay in that process inevitably has led to speculation about the 29-year-old's future, but Bontempelli is giving no signs that is looking elsewhere. Coach Luke Beveridge noted this week that the star midfielder has had a lot on his plate this year - a pre-season calf injury, a marriage to plan and part-ownership of a Melbourne cafe. "It's going well - obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up," Bontempelli said. "There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why - probably no different to other years - I took my time a little bit with it. "But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well-and-truly get rolling with that. "I see it going quite smoothly." Likewise, he is pleased that troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club this week and is back training. But just as Beveridge won't predict when the former No.1 draft pick might play again, Bontempelli has no expectations about Ugle-Hagan's potential comeback. "Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment - hopefully getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at a playing again," Bontempelli said. Bontempelli's on-field output was quelled by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager in round 14, but the Bulldogs still won by 72 points. The 'Dogs captain was unfussed by the attention. "That is the big badge of honour, the big responsibility, you get sometimes," he said. "The opposition will pay you closer attention - it is a feather in your cap. "You have to look at that as a positive. Ultimately, in those scenarios you can look at it as an advantage and how you get a win in that area, by somewhat sacrificing your own game in the end for others to benefit." Bontempelli was at Marvel Stadium to help launch the 'Touch and Track' technology, designed to help blind people follow the game live. Blind footballer and keen Bulldogs fan Shaun Keath felt there was a missed opportunity on Friday. "I should have had a word with you earlier and got you to sign today - it would have been a great scoop," Keath said as he showed the system to Bontempelli. "I used it (Touch and Track) last week when The Bont flogged St Kilda and it was near-perfect, so it was great. "I don't need the headphones in all the time as well ... heaps more enjoyable." Touch and Track has been in development for a couple of years and Bontempelli noted "good things take time" - a bit like his contract talks.
Perth Now
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Good things take time': Bont contract talks to begin
Marcus Bontempelli expects negotiations to go smoothly as talks finally ramp up on his next contract with the Western Bulldogs. The Bulldogs captain, one of the greatest players in the AFL club's history, said on Friday morning that talks will start in earnest next week. The delay in that process inevitably has led to speculation about the 29-year-old's future, but Bontempelli is giving no signs that is looking elsewhere. Coach Luke Beveridge noted this week that the star midfielder has had a lot on his plate this year - a pre-season calf injury, a marriage to plan and part-ownership of a Melbourne cafe. "It's going well - obviously it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up," Bontempelli said. "There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why - probably no different to other years - I took my time a little bit with it. "But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well-and-truly get rolling with that. "I see it going quite smoothly." Likewise, he is pleased that troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan returned to the club this week and is back training. But just as Beveridge won't predict when the former No.1 draft pick might play again, Bontempelli has no expectations about Ugle-Hagan's potential comeback. "Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment - hopefully getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at a playing again," Bontempelli said. Bontempelli's on-field output was quelled by St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager in round 14, but the Bulldogs still won by 72 points. The 'Dogs captain was unfussed by the attention. "That is the big badge of honour, the big responsibility, you get sometimes," he said. "The opposition will pay you closer attention - it is a feather in your cap. "You have to look at that as a positive. Ultimately, in those scenarios you can look at it as an advantage and how you get a win in that area, by somewhat sacrificing your own game in the end for others to benefit." Bontempelli was at Marvel Stadium to help launch the 'Touch and Track' technology, designed to help blind people follow the game live. Blind footballer and keen Bulldogs fan Shaun Keath felt there was a missed opportunity on Friday. "I should have had a word with you earlier and got you to sign today - it would have been a great scoop," Keath said as he showed the system to Bontempelli. "I used it (Touch and Track) last week when The Bont flogged St Kilda and it was near-perfect, so it was great. "I don't need the headphones in all the time as well ... heaps more enjoyable." Touch and Track has been in development for a couple of years and Bontempelli noted "good things take time" - a bit like his contract talks.
Courier-Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Courier-Mail
Footy commentator Brian Taylor goes rogue after X-rated replay
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Brian Taylor couldn't help himself. The veteran AFL caller left Channel 7 colleague Kane Cornes chortling as he went rogue over revealing footage of Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli during the club's big win over St Kilda on Thursday night at Marvel Stadium. The Dogs captain was somewhat stitched up when TV cameras captured the moment he crashed into the back of St Kilda's Mitch Owens, giving a free kick away with a high tackle in the third quarter. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Slow-motion replays regrettably proved more revealing than most with the three-time AFL Players Association MVP seen sliding over his opponent's back and then landing on the ball. Taylor was quick to point out Bontempelli's tackle when the replay showed the moment the 29-year-old took a direct hit to his middle stump. 'Have a look at Bontempelli here,' Taylor said. 'He lands on the ball in an awkward position. You can see just here, I think it got him right on the doodle. 'He felt uncomfortable for a moment.' Cornes chuckled and responded by saying: 'It's a good pick up'. You can watch the incident in the video player above Brian Taylor with Matthew Richardson (left) with Marcus Bontempelli compromised by TV cameras (right). Photo: 7Plus. Hawthorn great Luke Hodge also responded by saying: 'I thought he was disappointed because he gave away the free kick, but that's the reason'. The grimace on Bontempelli's face said it all. Bontempelli's unfortunate flop wasn't the only bizarre incident with footy fans left snickering over an apparent coin toss injury before the game. Thursday night's TV broadcast showed the moment a corporate representative of St Kilda sponsor Chery Motor Group came undone with an apparent hamstring strain while flipping the coin. The unfortunate victim was seen immediately grabbing at the muscle after hoisting the coin into the air with enough force to launch Elon's SpaceX Starship. The man bravely hobbled off as Bontempelli and St Kilda captain Jack Steele ran back to their team huddle before the first bounce. One video of the pre-match injury shared by footy commentator Giulio Di Giordio has more than two million views on X. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY The hamstring homicide was discussed after the game on Seven with Saints champion Nick Riewoldt more than a little amused. 'That's unbelievable. Can you imagine his WhatsApp group at the moment,' he said with a laugh. 'It'd be merciless. Wow.' He went on to say: 'It's been a rough night for Saints people'. The victim was lucky to survive the incident. Photo: Fox Footy. Leading injury analyst Brien Seeney, the physiotherapist behind the popular 'NRL PHYSIO' account on X, also posted a video of the hammy ping, writing: 'Textbook coin-toss hamstring strain mechanism. 'Likely to require 2-4 weeks recovery. Main rehab challenge is loading - need to start with tossing 5c coins and slowly progress all the way up to 50c. If that's done too quickly re-injury risk is sky high.' Channel 7 reporter Mitch Cleary said people inside the Saints camp had confirmed the act was not staged and had in fact been a real injury. It was a rough old night for the Saints with coach Ross Lyon left being blunt with reporters after the 72-point thumping. Lyon said there's was 'no magic bullet' to fix the issues plaguing his struggling team as another season threatens to peter out into obscurity. Originally published as Footy commentator Brian Taylor goes rogue after X-rated replay
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Bailey Smith left the Bulldogs, and the comment that cut them the deepest
The comment prompted the genial Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to depart from a career of amiably saying nothing to smilingly tell a Channel Seven morning show: 'It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind'. He then needled: 'There's probably a few less people in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to'. Not quite Kendrick Lamar versus Drake, but also not nothing. Bontempelli's comment was a reminder that in Smith's gusting re-emergence after a year on the sidelines, he has twice been fined for flipping the bird to fans. The exchanges set up the idea of simmering animus between the club and former player ahead of a reunion in Geelong under lights. 'I live for that sort of stuff, so it's just going to be the best fun. Regardless of how it goes, I can't wait to get back out there.' Smith told Fox Footy on Saturday. Straight after Bont's reply, 'Bazlenka' (Smith's Instagram handle) teased Bontempelli with a post to his 363,000 followers from Torquay's 'Salty Dog Cafe' that his old skipper had taken the bait. Loading But Bontempelli's first comment – 'it's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind' – might actually be the most instructive. In his last year at the Bulldogs, Dogs players felt they were far from Bailey's mind, and that he had checked out of the club. In 2023, Smith had been deeply frustrated at the Dogs. A star running player, he couldn't get into the midfield (where he felt he belonged) because coach Luke Beveridge was persisting with a combination centred around Bontempelli, Liberatore and Jack Macrae. Smith, meanwhile, was out on a half-forward flank. Then as training began ahead of a new season, in which Beveridge knew he needed to change what he had been doing with his midfield, Smith did his knee. Had he not done so, and had he played last year, it would almost certainly have been in the midfield. One of the key reasons for Smith eventually leaving might have evaporated. Instead, for Smith it was injury added to insult. A month after his injury, the club went to Mooloolaba for a training camp and Smith left days early. It annoyed some senior players, who look back on it now as the first moment of him separating himself from the club. Others at the Dogs figure this was just the first tangible moment to hang the argument off but in reality the significance of him leaving the camp was overstated – there was precious little a player one month into his recovery could do there. But Smith's departure signalled to some in the playing group that he wanted to just get on and do his own thing. That became the pattern of the year for him at the Dogs. As Ed Richards nailed down the position Smith might have had in the Dogs' recast midfield, Smith was working alone to overcome his knee injury, often doing his rehab sessions alone at night or when no one was there. It was no surprise to anyone when he wanted to leave at the year's end and nominated the Cats. Bulldogs people, who did not want to comment publicly in order to speak freely, said it was not the fact that Smith left the club that annoyed them, but how he did it. Beveridge was far more equable. 'I'm really happy, personally, that he's well within himself, and he's playing good footy but there's no ongoing considerations around what could have been from us because there wasn't any negativity around the separation from my point of view and from the club's point of view. That all happened pretty amicably, regardless of the conjecture over 'was the pick low enough', all that sort of stuff, that's probably something that people will continue to talk about,' Beveridge said. Loading Smith went to Geelong as part of a trade for pick 17, which also landed them Matthew Kennedy from Carlton. They used pick 17 at the draft on powerful mid-forward Cooper Hynes. Smith's impact on Geelong has been profound on the field and off. Overwhelmingly he was recruited to help transform the Cats midfield. He has done that with running ability that is on a level above other players. On the field – and this comparison is made with trepidation lest it be interpreted as a broader life comparison, which it is not – Smith reminds of Ben Cousins for his high-speed running and endurance. He was also recruited – to a far lesser extent – with an eye to the Cats wanting and needing to fill the new stand they had just completed. Smith is box office and he would fill those seats. Smith is a disruptor on the field and, in a marketing sense, off it. He has a social media impact unparalleled at Geelong and bettered by few in the AFL. He went to Geelong on a deal – five years at roughly $750,000 a year – that already looks modest. There was cynicism that he was enticed by the club sponsor, and Smith employer, Cotton On. It's an understandable frustration when Geelong land yet another player, but Smith had long worked for Cotton On as a brand ambassador and model and his current deal with the clothing company has another year to run. If his next contract were to suddenly rise dramatically, the AFL would intervene unless it could be proven to be in line with the market for the services provided. When Smith is about the most marketable person in the AFL, it would be hard to challenge a market rate. Cotton On's bigger problem might be getting Smith in clothes. His popular Instagram page seemingly has more photos of him without a shirt than with one. It makes you want to channel Steve Carell in the movie Date Night, erupting at bare-chested Mark Wahlberg: 'for the love of God will you put on a f---ing shirt'. Smith has Wahlberg-like abs. Geelong thought they knew the marketable star they were getting, but were still unprepared for what arrived. Smith wore a Nike headband in the first pre-season games. It was a news item. Headbands sold out at the club shop and at sport stores while discussions were had between the AFL and Geelong over the wearing of a non-sponsored product displaying a visible logo. It was resolved that it was acceptable for a pre-season game but would not be tolerated in season. He now wears the headband with the swoosh on the inside. Headbands still sell heavily. They quickly had to learn Smith had his own unfiltered way of connecting to fans. Over summer, 'Bazlenka' encouraged Cats fans to get down to the Torquay Hotel and get on the piss with him, and one of his Barry beer business partners Charlie Curnow, to promote their beer. At the EJ Whitten grand final legends lunch last year, Smith said of the Dogs: 'I still love the club, that's what people forget. But there's a level of when you outgrow a place, or you just need a fresh change for whatever reason. I still love them, they're still my mates.' That he needed a fresh start was unchallenged by anyone at the Bulldogs, who were all also acutely aware of the serious mental health problems Smith had endured through his time there. While it is a situation that feels to an outsider at odds with his extroverted on-field and social media persona, those who know him also know that only speaks to the complexity of the issues with which Smith continues to deal. His old teammates were comfortable with his reasons for leaving, but less impressed to learn he felt he had outgrown them. It made them sound and feel small – a sentiment reinforced by his chip about Ballarat – and it did not sit well. There is undoubtedly still love there. Just perhaps not on Thursday night.
