Bontempelli's finals fitness in doubt as Bulldogs manage Achilles
Marcus Bontempelli remains no certainty to return for the Western Bulldogs' final home-and-away match against Melbourne, with the club prepared to rest their captain again to ensure he is ready for the wildcard round.
The Bulldogs skipper sat out Sunday's dramatic draw with Carlton at Marvel Stadium, carrying a persistent Achilles complaint that has troubled him throughout the second half of the season.
Why was Bontempelli rested against Carlton?
Coach Luke Beveridge confirmed the decision to give his captain a week off was precautionary, with the midfielder managing a range of niggles in 2026.
He's just had a bit of a grumbly Achilles over recent times, so (it) seemed like the time was right, this one, just to give him a week off, Beveridge said after the match.
The Western Bulldogs enter the finals series via the wildcard round, and Beveridge indicated the club would prioritise Bontempelli's long-term availability over short-term gain.
If it's still hanging around and we feel like another week will really help him prepare for the wildcard game, then we'll probably rest him again, give him another week to freshen up a bit, he said. He'll definitely play before the year's out, hopefully he gets a run of games.
Draw secures Carlton's finals spot
For Carlton, the draw was enough to lock in a wildcard berth and confirm a top-10 finish with one round remaining. Interim coach Josh Fraser, who began his tenure with a win over the Bulldogs, now bookends that run with a result that secured the club's post-season participation.
Fraser said the players were well aware a draw would suffice and shifted into a defensive mindset in the final minutes rather than chasing a fourth win.
We've trained some scenarios a fair bit. Most sessions we're training scenarios, and then just the awareness that a draw was going to be enough for us, Fraser said. For the players to be able to click into a mode of playing a certain way for that couple of minutes and execute that, I think they did a great job.
Derksen's crucial goal-line intervention
The match featured a late moment of high drama when Francis Evans took a shot from 40 metres out toward an apparently empty goal square. Defender-turned-forward Wade Derksen, positioned on the goal line, reached up to grab the ball and kick it through himself.
The score was initially awarded to Derksen before being corrected to Evans, but the moment highlighted the versatility Fraser has demanded from his squad.
I wasn't entirely sure what 'Derks' was doing, which I probably wasn't alone thinking that, Fraser said with a laugh. The change in role for him tonight, predominantly been back for us, and we wanted to get (Jacob Weitering) into the team and see what this looks like. Derks has to play a different role, so he was important.
What does the draw mean for both clubs?
The result was Beveridge's first draw as a senior coach, a feeling he described as odd, but one that carries little consequence given the Bulldogs had already secured their finals position. For Carlton, the single point was the difference between a wildcard berth and an early end to the season.
Both clubs now turn their attention to round 24, with the Bulldogs facing Melbourne and Carlton awaiting their wildcard opponent. Bontempelli's availability for that match will be determined later in the week, with the club's medical staff monitoring the Achilles issue closely.
Frequently asked questions
Will Marcus Bontempelli play in round 24?
No guarantee has been given. Coach Luke Beveridge said the club would assess the captain's Achilles during the week and may rest him again to ensure he is fresh for the wildcard final.
How did Carlton secure a finals spot?
The draw with the Western Bulldogs was enough for Carlton to lock in a wildcard position and confirm a top-10 finish with one round remaining.
What was significant about Wade Derksen's role?
Derksen, normally a defender, played forward against the Bulldogs and made a crucial goal-line save late in the match, preventing what could have been a costly Carlton error.