​​​Tessa Lee, Sports journalist reporting on global leagues since 2021.​

​Marcus Bontempelli injury concerns are growing at the Western Bulldogs as the club weighs whether to shut down its captain for the remainder of the AFL season if his condition does not improve. The Bulldogs skipper has continued to play through a medial ligament injury suffered in Round 6 against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, but the issue remains under close watch as the club battles a mounting injury crisis and slipping finals hopes.

Bontempelli hyper extended his knee during the clash with the Cats in an incident that initially appeared severe enough to sideline him for weeks. Despite the setback, the 30 year old midfielder returned the following week and produced a strong performance against Sydney, although the Bulldogs suffered a heavy defeat.

The Western Bulldogs started the season strongly and were widely viewed as a genuine premiership contender. However, a run of injuries to key players has dramatically altered the club’s momentum.

The Bulldogs have now slipped to 10th on the AFL ladder after another disappointing loss, this time against Carlton. Concerns over Bontempelli’s long term health are now becoming a major talking point across the competition.

Bulldogs facing difficult decision on captain

Senior AFL journalist Caroline Wilson revealed on Channel 7 program The Agenda Setters that the club is monitoring Bontempelli’s condition closely and may consider ending his season if the injury continues to linger.

Wilson said the midfielder had been dealing with significant discomfort since the incident against Geelong.

She explained that while the Bulldogs believed the extra recovery time between matches had helped improve his condition, there were still concerns about the state of the medial ligament.

Wilson suggested the club may need to make a major call around the bye period or by the end of June if the team’s injury problems continue and finals hopes fade further.

Bontempelli has continued to perform at a high level despite the physical toll. However, observers have noted that he has occasionally appeared restricted and sore during matches in recent weeks.

AFL commentator Kane Cornes also described the situation as significant, calling Bontempelli one of the competition’s biggest stars and saying the injury would remain under heavy scrutiny.

Injury crisis deepens at the Western Bulldogs

The uncertainty surrounding Bontempelli comes at a difficult time for the Bulldogs, who have been hit hard by injuries across multiple positions.

Young star Sam Darcy has already been ruled out for the remainder of the season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament. Darcy had emerged as one of the club’s most important key position players before the injury setback.

Ruckman Tim English is also unavailable as he remains in concussion protocols. The club has not provided a clear timeline for his return.

Veteran midfielder Tom Liberatore is dealing with both concussion concerns and a knee problem, adding further pressure to the Bulldogs midfield group. Like English, there is currently no confirmed return date for Liberatore.

Defender Bailey Williams has also been sidelined with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss between five and seven weeks.

Riley Garcia remains unavailable as well due to what the club described as a recurrent issue involving the hamstring tendon connected to a previous ACL reconstruction.

The growing injury list has placed extra responsibility on Bontempelli, who remains the emotional and tactical leader of the side.

Bontempelli continuing elite form despite injury

Even while managing the knee issue, Bontempelli has maintained his reputation as one of the AFL’s elite midfielders.

The six time All Australian has consistently delivered strong performances throughout the season and continues to be regarded as one of the most influential players in the competition.

His leadership has been especially important during the Bulldogs’ difficult stretch, with the club attempting to stay within reach of the top eight despite the mounting absences.

Bontempelli has twice finished runner up in the Brownlow Medal count. In 2021, he polled 33 votes before finishing behind Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines. He again finished second in 2023, this time behind Brisbane captain Lachie Neale.

Many within the football community believe Bontempelli is among the best players of his generation and deserves to eventually claim the league’s highest individual honour.

Finals hopes hanging in the balance

The Bulldogs now face a critical period in their season. With injuries continuing to pile up and the club falling outside the top eight, management may soon be forced to prioritise Bontempelli’s long term health over short term results.

Shutting down the captain for the season would be a major decision given his importance to the team both on and off the field. However, the club may decide it is the safest option if the knee injury fails to improve.

The next several weeks are expected to shape the Bulldogs’ approach. A return to winning form could encourage the club to continue managing Bontempelli through the injury, while further losses may increase pressure to protect their star midfielder ahead of future seasons.

For now, the Western Bulldogs remain hopeful that additional recovery time will allow their skipper to continue playing. But with the club’s injury crisis worsening and concerns around his knee persisting, the situation surrounding Marcus Bontempelli is likely to remain one of the AFL’s biggest stories.