Western Bulldogs’ young gun Marcus Bontempelli put the exclamation mark on a remarkable season last week, taking home his first Charles Sutton Medal at the Dog’s best and fairest count.
The dynamic midfielder, who is still only 20 years old, finished 71 votes ahead of veteran defender Dale Morris to become the youngest winner since David Thorpe in 1968.
It caps off an amazing season for Bontempelli, who received his first All Australian guernsey on the eve of the finals, and was a key player in the Bulldogs’ drought-breaking premiership.
Reflecting on his win on the night, Bontempelli admitted he didn’t expect to have so much success so early in his career.
“I wasn’t expecting to be standing up here this soon, but it’s all been worth it,” he said.
“It’s been an incredible three years – it’s just been everything I thought it would be, and so much more as well.
“Did I expect it to happen this quickly? No. But was I at odds with the fact that I didn’t think I was capable? Well, no, as well.”
While still early in his career, he said winning a best and fairest in a premiership season ranked as high as anything he has achieved in the game.
“There’s a bit of magic in the air at the moment, and I think it is important at times like this to smell the roses a bit,” he said.
“I think apart from the weekend [grand final] there’s probably not a prouder moment for me than this night.”
While Morris took home the Doug Hawkins Medal for his second place in the count, midfielder Lachie Hunter claimed the Gary Dempsey Medal for his third place finish, just two votes behind. Liam Picken was announced as the club’s best player of the finals, while Josh Dunkley won the Chris Grant best first year player award.
In other awards, Jordan Roughead was named most improved, Matthew Boyd won best team player, Tom Liberatore won most courageous, and Jaimee Lambert won the Susan Alberti award for her fine performances in the three women’s exhibition games.
Popular ruckman Will Minson also announced that he and the club have decided to part ways after 191 games. The 2013 All-Australian player will explore free agency options before deciding whether to play on at a second AFL club.
And in a fitting tribute to the 2016 premiers, coach Luke Beveridge revealed skipper Bob Murphy had returned the medal that Beveridge presented to him on the premiership dais, and it will now be donated to the Bulldogs’ museum to sit alongside the long-awaited premiership cup.
