Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has put all speculation to bed after penning a new deal to remain at the Whitten Oval.
Fresh off being named the second greatest ever Bulldog, behind Mr. Football, EJ 'Ted' Whitten', Bontempelli officially re-signed to the club, locking him away until the end of 2029.
Taken with Pick 4 after being a bolter in the 2013 National Draft, the classy left-footer has quickly become a cult figure of the competition, and comfortably sits among the best in the league.
Bontempelli has played 253 games for the Bulldogs, almost kicking a goal a game, while the individual accolades stack up against the stars of Australian Rules Football.
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— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) July 22, 2025
The 29-year-old has already claimed a premiership (2016), six All-Australian blazers, six Charles Sutton Medals, three Leigh Matthews MVP trophies, the AFLCA Player of the Year award, three-time AFLPA best captain and has skippered the Bulldogs since 2020.
The new deal will add four years to Bontempelli's tenure, likely making Bontempelli a Bulldog for life.
"This Club means so much to me, it's hard to put it into a few words, to be honest. It is where I have grown as a man and spent all of my adult years coming here at 18," Bontempelli said.
"When I think about the person I want to become, it has been influenced by the people I have spent a lot of time with at the Western Bulldogs.
"I owe so much from a footballing experience perspective, but I think I really owe a lot of my maturing as a person and as a man to the football club.
"For me, it's such a special place, the fans, the people that have supported me along the way. I've never not felt supported by our people here at the Club.
"I feel incredibly lucky to have had that for so long."
Sam Power EGM of Football at the Bulldogs was stoked the club was able to lock away the "generational player".Â
"As a Club, we're really pleased to lock Marcus away for another four seasons at Mission Whitten Oval," Power said.
"Marcus has not only become a generational player for the Western Bulldogs but one of, if not the, most influential players in the competition.
"His leadership and influence over our group and wider club is phenomenal, continually setting the standard on and off the field, always striving to get the best out of players and staff.
"As a player, Marcus has impacted games of football for the past decade with his unique blend of skill, athleticism and thriving in the game's biggest moments, rising to the occasion when our Club has most required it.
"His unwavering commitment to the red, white and blue has shone throughout his career, and every person associated with the Western Bulldogs will be thrilled to watch that number four jumper run around for years to come."
