Marcus Bontempelli could play half-back as the Western Bulldogs deal with a worsening injury crisis. On 18 Jun, the Bulldogs lost to Geelong by 75 points.
What happened?
The Bulldogs have lost several key players to injury, including Sam Darcy, Tim English, and Tom Liberatore.
Marcus Bontempelli landed awkwardly on his knee during the match but played on. Jordan Lewis, a four-time premiership player, has suggested that Bontempelli could play half-back to help the team's defence.
Why it matters for Marcus Bontempelli
Bontempelli is widely viewed as the AFL's best midfielder, and his move to half-back could change the team's fortunes. Lewis said that Bontempelli's leadership and communication skills would be valuable in the defensive end.
The Bulldogs have conceded 235 points in the last two weeks, and Lewis believes that Bontempelli's move could help to fix the team's defensive leaks. He also noted that the team's current defenders, such as Bailey Dale, are not performing well.
What comes next?
The Bulldogs will host Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night, and coach Luke Beveridge may consider making the bold positional change. Lewis flagged Jedd Busslinger and Ryan Gardner as potential inclusions in the team's defence.
Bontempelli's move to half-back would be a significant change, but it could help the team to turn their season around. The Bulldogs have won 17 of their last matches against Sydney, but they will need to improve their defence to win on Thursday night.
The team's injury crisis has been a major concern, with several key players out for an extended period. But with Bontempelli's potential move to half-back, the Bulldogs may have found a solution to their defensive problems.
And the Bulldogs' coach, Luke Beveridge, will be hoping that Bontempelli can make a significant impact in the defensive end. The team's fans will be watching with interest to see if the move pays off.
So the stage is set for an exciting match on Thursday night, with the Bulldogs looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Geelong. Will Bontempelli's move to half-back be the key to their success?