WESTERN Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli has added to an outstanding season by winning the Charles Sutton Medal.
The 23-year-old midfielder took home the award with 299 votes, ahead of midfield revelation Josh Dunkley (270) and fellow ball-magnet Jack Macrae (268). The super consistency of Macrae is evident in his third consecutive top-three finish.
It is the third time Bontempelli has won the best and fairest in just six seasons at the club, with his previous wins coming in 2016 and 2017.
Running defenders Jason Johannisen and Caleb Daniel rounded out the top five.
Bontempelli boasts an impressive list of accolades from the 2019 season, including the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award, All Australian honours for the second time in his career and finishing equal eighth with 22 votes in the Brownlow Medal count.
"The word 'reliable' is something we really value within the football club and that's something I'm probably trying to do week-to-week and, if that's the case, if that's how I'm seen, then I think that's pretty good," Bontempelli said
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The Bulldogs' vice-captain was in the top 20 in numerous categories across the competition, notably third in centre clearances, fourth in score involvements and sixth in metres gained and inside 50s.
He averaged 26.3 disposals and kicked 15 goals in 23 games.
Bontempelli joins five players as triple club champions at the Bulldogs (Matthew Boyd, Ian Dunstan, Harry Hickey, Brad Johnson and Ivan McAlpine), while Scott West remains the outright leader with seven to his name.
Player | Medals | Seasons |
Scott West | 7 | 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005 |
Gary Dempsey | 6 | 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 |
John Schultz | 5 | 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966 |
Norman Ware | 5 | 1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941 |
Ted Whitten | 5 | 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961 |
Marcus Bontempelli | 3 | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
Matthew Boyd | 3 | 2009, 2011, 2012 |
Ian Dunstan | 3 | 1979, 1981, 1982 |
Harry Hickey | 3 | 1939, 1945, 1948 |
Brad Johnson | 3 | 1999, 2002, 2006 |
Ivan McAlpine | 3 | 1927, 1930, 1932 |
The Charles Sutton Medal is voted on by the Bulldogs' match committee, with five members awarding a score from zero to five for each player after every game.
Charles Sutton Medal voting – top 10
1. Marcus Bontempelli (299)
2. Josh Dunkley (270)
3. Jack Macrae (268)
4. Jason Johannisen (174)
5. Caleb Daniel (164)
6. Lachie Hunter (161)
7. Easton Wood (160)
8. Aaron Naughton (154)
9. Sam Lloyd (153)
10. Hayden Crozier (141)
