87 Facts About Marcus Bontempelli

Marcus Bontempelli was born on 24 November 1995 and is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League.

Marcus Bontempelli has served as Western Bulldogs captain since the 2020 season, and was previously the vice-captain from 2018 to 2019.

Marcus Bontempelli made his AFL debut in the 2014 AFL season.

Marcus Bontempelli received a nomination for the 2014 AFL Rising Star award in round 13 of the 2014 season, placing second in the overall count at the conclusion of the season.

Marcus Bontempelli was runner-up in the 2021 and 2023 Brownlow Medals.

Marcus Bontempelli began playing junior football for Eltham football Club in Melbourne, Victoria.

Marcus Bontempelli played for the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup, a prestigious under-18 competition in Victoria.

Marcus Bontempelli impressed scouts with his skills, athleticism, and leadership on the field, earning him a spot on the Western Bulldogs.

Marcus Bontempelli was raised in Eltham in the north eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria.

Marcus Bontempelli was the third of four children to father, Carlo and mother, Geraldine.

Marcus Bontempelli was educated at Marcellin College, and played junior football for the Eltham Panthers in the Northern Football Netball League junior divisions.

Marcus Bontempelli was the sports captain at Marcellin College in his final year, and he played for both the 1st XVIII football team and the 1st basketball team.

Marcus Bontempelli notably had a game where he collected 50 disposals and kicked 10 goals.

Marcus Bontempelli had a successful time playing basketball before turning to Australian rules football, playing in two winning school basketball premierships and becoming a National School Boys basketball champion.

Marcus Bontempelli played for the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup for the 2013 season.

Marcus Bontempelli participated in 19 games and kicked 138 goals throughout the season, while being selected in the 2013 TAC Cup Team on the interchange bench.

Marcus Bontempelli played for Vic Metro in the AFL Under 18 Championships in 2013, primarily in the half back and wing positions.

Some sources had Marcus Bontempelli ranging from pick four to even as far down as pick 15.

Marcus Bontempelli ended up getting selected with the fourth selection in the draft, behind Tom Boyd, Josh Kelly, and Jack Billings.

Marcus Bontempelli made his senior debut in the Western Bulldogs's 38 point loss to Carlton in round 5 of the 2014 AFL season.

On debut, Marcus Bontempelli collected 14 disposals and 5 tackles, beginning to build his reputation as a high pressure player.

Marcus Bontempelli received an AFL Rising Star nomination in round 13 for his 22 disposals and one goal performance in the Bulldogs' win over Collingwood.

In round 15, Marcus Bontempelli kicked a remarkable goal tight up on the boundary in the final minutes of the match to give the Dogs a one-goal win over Melbourne.

Marcus Bontempelli was awarded the Chris Grant best first-year player in 2014, alongside the AFL Players Association best first-year player award.

Marcus Bontempelli finished second in the AFL Rising Star in the same year, losing to Brisbane Lions player Lewis Taylor by a single vote.

Marcus Bontempelli polled 4 votes at the 2014 Brownlow Medal count that year, including three in his standout performance against Melbourne in round 15.

Marcus Bontempelli continued to improve over the course of the 2015 season, playing all games except for round three and round ten, when he was injured with an adductor strain.

Marcus Bontempelli collected 24 disposals, 3 marks, 2 behinds and 7 tackles in the Western Bulldogs' seven point elimination final loss to Adelaide.

Marcus Bontempelli was named as one of their best on ground.

Marcus Bontempelli came third in the Charles Sutton Medal, the award for the Best and fairest player for the Western Bulldogs.

Marcus Bontempelli was only topped by Easton Wood and Bob Murphy in the count.

Marcus Bontempelli was named in the 22 Under 22 team as a midfielder.

Marcus Bontempelli signed a long-term contract with the Bulldogs in September, keeping him at the club until 2019.

Marcus Bontempelli had his best year yet in 2016, playing every single game of the season, including the Western Bulldogs fairytale premiership win.

Marcus Bontempelli was elevated into the club's leadership group at the beginning of the year.

Marcus Bontempelli collected a career-high 33 disposals in the Bulldogs' round 8 match against Melbourne.

On 5 June 2016, in the absence of acting captain Easton Wood, who was filling in for injured regular captain Robert Murphy, Marcus Bontempelli captained the Western Bulldogs against West Coast at Etihad Stadium, becoming the youngest match day captain in the AFL since Jack Trengove in 2012.

Marcus Bontempelli was instrumental in the Bulldogs' four consecutive finals, including the 2016 AFL Grand Final, which was the club's first premiership victory in 62 years.

Marcus Bontempelli's season was rewarded with the Charles Sutton Medal, finishing 71 votes clear of second-placed Dale Morris.

Marcus Bontempelli received 20 votes in the 2016 Brownlow Medal, the highest of any player for the Bulldogs in 2016, and his highest total to that date.

Marcus Bontempelli had five games in which he was voted best on ground, and finished 8th overall in the voting.

Marcus Bontempelli made the 22 under 22 team for the third year in a row, named the captain of the team.

Marcus Bontempelli made the All-Australian team for the first time, named on the interchange bench, alongside veteran teammate Matthew Boyd.

Marcus Bontempelli missed the 2017 JLT Community Series after a minor ankle injury at the club's pre-season camp in January.

Marcus Bontempelli had season-best games against Carlton in round 2 and Sydney in round 17, kicking 2 goals and collecting 30 disposals in each game.

Marcus Bontempelli led the team in total number of behinds, tackles, inside 50s, clearances, contested marks and contested possessions by the end of the season.

On 20 November 2017, Marcus Bontempelli was named vice-captain of the club for the 2018 AFL season, following Murphy's retirement and Wood's elevation to captain from vice-captain.

Marcus Bontempelli had a similar vote count to his previous year in the 2017 Brownlow Medal, with a total of 19 votes, including 6 best on ground games in rounds 2,6,7,14,17 and 20.

Marcus Bontempelli played all but one game in the 2018 AFL season, in a disappointing season for the Bulldogs where they missed finals for the second year in a row.

On 10 July 2018, Marcus Bontempelli was taken to hospital with severe appendicitis and had surgery to resolve the issue.

Marcus Bontempelli was then placed on the sidelines in order to allow him to recover from the surgery, and subsequently missed round 7.

Marcus Bontempelli broke his career high record for disposals twice in two consecutive matches in rounds 21 and 22, against Carlton and North Melbourne respectively.

Marcus Bontempelli came 3rd in the Charles Sutton Medal count, behind Lachie Hunter and Jack Macrae.

Marcus Bontempelli only polled 9 votes in the 2018 Brownlow Medal, his lowest count since his debut year.

Marcus Bontempelli had another successful year in 2019, taking the Bulldogs to the finals series as the team's vice-captain.

Marcus Bontempelli had 5 games where he collected 30 or more disposals.

Marcus Bontempelli was heavily tagged in the Bulldogs' elimination final loss to Greater Western Sydney, resulting in a loss for the Bulldogs, adding to the growing rivalry of the two clubs.

Marcus Bontempelli made the All-Australian squad for the second time in his career.

Marcus Bontempelli was named on the wing, as there was fierce competition for the highly contested midfield spots.

Marcus Bontempelli won the AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year award, winning with a total of 107 votes, 17 votes ahead of second placed Patrick Dangerfield.

Marcus Bontempelli was the first Western Bulldogs player to win the award since it was first introduced in 2003, with 312 game Bulldog player Bob Murphy describing him as a "generational player".

Marcus Bontempelli won the Charles Sutton Medal for the 3rd time, gathering 299 votes, giving him a margin of 29 votes against the second placed Josh Dunkley.

In December 2019, Easton Wood stood down as Western Bulldogs captain, and Marcus Bontempelli was announced as the new captain from 2020.

Marcus Bontempelli played with teammate Jack Macrae and against fellow Bulldog Jason Johannisen.

Marcus Bontempelli was again recognised for his impressive performance throughout the season, and was named in the All-Australian team for the third time in his career, and the second year in a row, this time as a forward.

Marcus Bontempelli captained the Bulldogs to the 2020 finals series in a relatively fruitful year, playing every single game.

Marcus Bontempelli came runner-up in the Charles Sutton Medal voting, losing to defender Caleb Daniel by a mere 10 votes.

Marcus Bontempelli won the club's Scott West Most Courageous Player Award.

Marcus Bontempelli polled 10 brownlow votes in the 2020 Brownlow Medal count, placing him at 22nd overall in the count.

Marcus Bontempelli played his 150th AFL career game in round 5, where the Western Bulldogs strongly defeated Gold Coast.

Marcus Bontempelli was named as the game's best on ground by most media sources, after his 33 disposals and 3 goals helped the Bulldogs win their fifth game in a row, seeing the Bulldogs go undefeated for 5 rounds for the first time since 1946.

Marcus Bontempelli again led his team to victory in round 8 of the season, where his 32 disposals, 10 clearances, 8 tackles and 1 goal saw him heralded as the team's best on ground for the game.

Marcus Bontempelli equalled his highest goal tally for a game after kicking 4 goals in the team's 111-point victory over St Kilda in round 10, again being named as best on ground.

Marcus Bontempelli ultimately finished runner-up with 33 votes to Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines.

Marcus Bontempelli won the Charles Sutton Medal for the fourth time.

Marcus Bontempelli was credited with an "inspiring performance" to carry the Bulldogs to victory against Gold Coast in a tight game in Ballarat's round 10 match, where he kicked 3 goals, 2 of those occurring in the last quarter.

Marcus Bontempelli finished fourth in the season for the Charles Sutton Medal, trailing leader Josh Dunkley by 57 votes.

Marcus Bontempelli had an outstanding 2023 season, winning his fifth Charles Sutton Medal, placing second for the second time in the 2023 Brownlow Medal count, placing second for the AFL Coaches Association's AFL Champion Player Award, and called the best player of the year by sports journalist Mark Robinson.

Marcus Bontempelli played every game of the 2024 on the way to his third Leigh Matthews Trophy, sixth All-Australian team and sixth Charles Sutton Medal.

Marcus Bontempelli was named as the All-Australian Captain for the first time.

Marcus Bontempelli returned in round 6 to play a pivotal role in the Bulldogs' win over St Kilda, kicking two goals from 30 disposals.

Marcus Bontempelli is the younger cousin of former St Kilda and North Melbourne player Nick Dal Santo.

Marcus Bontempelli supported Richmond in his youth, and cited Matthew Richardson as his all-time favourite player.

Marcus Bontempelli featured in a campaign by the Western Bulldogs in 2017 to advocate for marriage equality, where he stated "Marriage equality won't make a difference to the vast majority of Australians but it will make a profound difference to the status and dignity of many".

Marcus Bontempelli has volunteered for a charity called Ladder, which aims to improve life for young people in Australia by working with AFL players to mentor young people.

Marcus Bontempelli co-authored a children's picture book with Fiona Harris, after Affirm Press acquired the rights to the book in September 2020.

Marcus Bontempelli appeared in a set of advertisements by AAMI insurance throughout 2021.