Jimmy Bartel has warned the Western Bulldogs that “time’s ticking” to win another premiership, with fears skipper Marcus Bontempelli is at the end of his tether.
It comes after the Dogs’ 37-point loss to Hawthorn in the elimination final on Friday night at the MCG.
Bontempelli collected 18 disposals in his side’s loss and had just four touches in the second and third terms, as he sat in the forward line instead of midfield.
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When he was moved back into the middle in the last quarter, he nabbed nine disposals and kicked a goal, lifting his team for a brief period of the match.
But, according to Bartel, it should not be up to Bontempelli to single-handedly carry his side to success.
“Time’s ticking. The champs want to cash in. They want to take a full toll,” Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
“He’s going to get even more personal accolades this year, when all the awards are done. But he wants another premiership.”
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Matthew Lloyd noted how angry the 2016 premiership player looked during that final term, as he attempted to put the Dogs on his back.
“I haven’t seen him … so animated and frustrated in a game of footy,” Lloyd said.
“We’re seeing that level of outward frustration and emotion. He knows the game was getting away from them,” Bartel added.
It comes as two of Bontempelli’s teammates, Bailey Smith and Jack Macrae, requested trades out of Whitten Oval during the week.
It raises fears that there is a growing disconnect between players and coach Luke Beveridge, who seems to play those outgoing stars out of position.
“This time last year, it was starting to be talked about, while he (Smith) was still in contract for this current season, (that he) wanted out,” Damien Barrett said.
“Now the damage done in the 2023 season … being forced to play away from the on-ball roles, was something he wasn’t able to recover from.
“These players are leaving in the peak of their form.”