David King has questioned whether the departure of Josh Dunkley has actually impacted the Bulldogs’ midfield, given the dominance of Marcus Bontempelli.
Dunkley’s move to Brisbane was one of the biggest stories of the off-season, as the Bulldogs were expected to take a hit without their reigning best and fairest winner.
This resulted in an adjusted role for skipper Bontempelli, taking more responsibility through the midfield as he became the Dogs’ clearance specialist, adding more to his already sizeable workload.
However, Bontempelli’s white-hot start to the season has left King wondering whether the Bulldogs’ midfield is better suited with their captain in the role than they were with Dunkley.
“The Dunkley discussion now is interesting with Bont, because Bont has now become their clearance man, he’s the target for hitouts now,” King said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“The last four weeks he’s gone eight, 11, 12 and eight clearances, his clearances are different to most because he’s got that range with his arms, he can get the ball up high and farm it out or step out.
“His clearances are really powerful clearances, they’re different to what they’ve had with the other crew.”
In King’s view, this change in role is unlocking Bontempelli’s game-breaking abilities even more.
“Does this now suit him more, this midfield, than it did with Dunkley there?” he said.
“We’re all saying Dunkley out, their midfield is light, which it may be for a second rotation, but if Bont can continue to do this, he becomes the next level player again.
“The new version without Dunkley in the middle has made Bont play a different way, a tougher brand of footy, but he’s still kept the damage, you don’t see too many midfielders like that.
“He can be best on ground with 20 (disposals), he’s that sort of player.”
King is particularly impressed by the impact Bontempelli has forward of centre, crediting that for his ability to dominate a contest.
“I just love the profile of how he gets his possessions, this is what really fascinates me,” he said.
“So 31 (disposals against Fremantle), 18 of them in the contest… but the break up of 20 of those disposals being forward of centre, that is a huge number.
“For a clearance midfielder to get that volume forward, it’s easy to see how he continues to have nine, ten score involvements a game.”
Bontempelli is averaging 26 disposals through the first six games of the season, as well as career-highs in clearances (8.3) and tackles (7.5).