GWS coach Adam Kingsley says Marcus Bontempelli could possibly be “the Bulldogs’ greatest every player” because the Giants plot to close him down and preserve their six-game profitable streak alive.
The Giants sit within the prime eight for the primary time since spherical 1 after a formidable second half of the season, however face a gruelling battle in opposition to the Bulldogs’ midfield with out necessary ballwinner Tom Green, who will miss no less than yet one more recreation with a hamstring pressure.
Kingsley stated he rated Bontempelli as presumably the Bulldogs’ best ever participant, together with his feedback coincidentally approaching what would have been Ted Whitten’s ninetieth birthday on Thursday.
Bontempelli proved the distinction between the 2 sides in spherical 9, accumulating 32 disposals and 14 clearances within the Dogs’ 15-point win.
“He’s a star of the game and well on his way to being the Bulldogs’ best ever player,” Kingsley stated.
“We’ll have a plan for him. We don’t have the luxury of Tom Green in the side at the moment, so we’ll use a different method but we’ll definitely have a plan,” Kingsley stated.
Kingsley bristled on the description of Tom Liberatore and Adam Treloar as “secondary midfielders” who might probably get away from the Giants in the event that they targeted on tagging Bontempelli.
“Well you described them as secondary midfielders, let’s be clear, they’re not,” he stated.
“Libba’s a gun … we’ll have plans for all of their midfielders, not just Bontempelli, because each of them in their own right are exceptional and can destroy us if given the opportunity.”
To attain a club-record seven consecutive wins in Ballarat on Saturday, the Giants will once more should kick a profitable rating with out Jesse Hogan, who Kingsley stated was no certainty to return for the Sydney derby in spherical 21 both as he battles a quad damage.
Hogan’s substitute, No. 1 choose Aaron Cadman, has managed solely 12 possessions and one aim in his two video games again within the senior aspect, however Kingsley stated he had “exceptional” attributes which warranted his choice.
“If you’re looking purely at disposals and goals, maybe he’s a little short,” he stated.
“I think in years to come, we’ll say we saw glimpses of the player he would become – we just didn’t necessarily recognise it at the time.
“His big point of difference is his ability to follow-up and play at ground level – it’s exceptional.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
