WESTERN Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has conceded he needs to improve his leadership skills in the wake of the club's opening round thrashing at the hands of Greater Western Sydney.

Installed as vice-captain to new skipper Easton Wood for this season, Bontempelli didn't have his usual impact in the 82-point loss in Canberra, and has now put the heat on himself to provide more guidance to a young Bulldog outfit. 

The 22-year-old only had 18 possessions and failed to kick a goal after strong pre-season form.

"In terms of my role as a leader, I've got to be better at supporting the boys through those periods," Bontempelli told RSN Radio on Tuesday morning.

"(I need to) see the game a little bit better, help players get through and get us back to where we need to be."

The pummelling from the Giants was the worst the Dogs have suffered during coach Luke Beveridge's four-year tenure, but Bontempelli said the premiership coach remained calm throughout the carnage.

"I think that's where Bevo comes into his own as a carer, first and foremost, before he does as a coach," Bontempelli said.

"He was quite calm in the situation when you'd expect a coach to go off and have a bit of a crack.

"Despite the scoreboard and what was unfolding throughout the game, he was right there with us and that's always been his line of thinking and coaching.

A season-ending injury to Tom Liberatore compounded the crushing loss, but Bontempelli said he was comforted by the 25-year-old's approach to his second knee reconstruction inside four years.

"His ability to process things is quite admirable, and I think he understands the process having been through it before," Bontempelli said.

"I think that should hold him in good stead and the rest of us can believe in him and support him."

Liberatore's impressive pre-season form will leave a big void in the club's midfield rotation, but Bontempelli says the Dogs have the depth to cover the gifted playmaker.

"We'll put a bit more reliance on other players to spend a bit more time in (the midfield), and we've seen some good growth in players like Toby McLean, who's really grown from a stoppage and centre-bounce point of view," he said.

"He and a few other will have to pick up the slack since we lost Tom Liberatore."