- The Bulldogs were eliminated by the Hawks in the AFL final
- Dogs captain Bontempelli lacked impact at key moments
- Manager Luke Beveridge has refuted claims he was on the bench for too long
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has dismissed doubts over Marcus Bontempelli’s fitness after the Brownlow Medal favourite suffered a rare off night in the season-ending loss to Hawthorn.
Dogs captain Bontempelli recorded just four disposals during the crucial second and third quarters at the MCG on Friday night as the elimination final slipped away.
The 28-year-old star tried desperately to lead his team back into contention at the start of last season, but the damage had already been done.
The Bulldogs eventually fell 14.15 (99) to 9.8 (62), their fifth elimination final defeat in the past decade.
Beveridge was repeatedly questioned about Bontempelli after the latter was largely ineffective during key parts of the elimination final.
But the Dogs coach praised Bontempelli’s efforts in the final quarter and refuted claims that prolonged time on the bench affected his performance.
“I don’t think he did… Do you have any data on that? He may have been on the bench for a minute or two longer than expected, but he was fine,” the manager said after the 37-point defeat,” Beveridge said when asked about Bontempelli’s fitness.
‘He tried to lift us up in the fourth quarter, kicked a goal and almost kicked a second.
‘He tried to lift us up in the fourth quarter, kicked a goal, almost kicked a second (a shot touched by teammate Aaron Naughton near the line).
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has been angered by suggestions his captain was on the bench for too long in their elimination final loss to the Hawks.
Bontempelli was quiet in the second and third quarters and spent time on the bench.
‘That was the message at the end of the third quarter: After all our hard work (during the season), we have to do everything we can to achieve this.
‘We started the fourth quarter as well as we could, but then we wasted a couple of forays forward where we possibly could have applied a bit of pressure.
‘In the end there was a significant difference in the score and they won.’
Bontempelli finished with 18 disposals and a goal in a midfield unit that was comprehensively outplayed by an exuberant Hawthorn side.
The Hawks dominated possession of the game (150-125) and generated a large advantage in forward innings (59-39).
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After leading by 12 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs were outscored nine to two during the second and third quarters when the game was on the line.
“Everything we had been good at – and if you look at the key performance indicators over the year – we lost that,” Beveridge said.
“How much of that is our fault and how much is Hawthorn’s? You have to give them credit for it, they were skilled all over the pitch and put us under enormous pressure.”
“We didn’t manage it as well as we needed to and they won the game fairly, quite convincingly in the end.
“We’re as flat as the proverbial road, as you can imagine.”
Beveridge, the Bulldogs’ championship coach in 2016, urged his players to “go with the process” and remain united in the pursuit of future success.
“We have a strong environment, we are spiritually and emotionally connected, and there is a lot of care,” Beveridge said.
“Now is the time to make sure we get through the disappointment together and have the determination, as we part ways, to take care of ourselves and start the next year on the right foot.”