Marcus Bontempelli Set to Play Through Heel and Knee Issues

Marcus Bontempelli is expected to line up against Port Adelaide despite carrying a knee issue and a bruised heel. The Western Bulldogs midfielder was limited to light duties at Wednesday's main training session, but the club still expects him to be available for the crunch clash.

Beveridge backs Bontempelli

Luke Beveridge said the heel has been the main concern. "He's had a bruised heel that he's been dealing with, that's the main thing I've been worried about," he said. "It's the main reason he was limping a bit in the game just gone."

The coach added that Bontempelli has managed the problem with the club's medicos and is "pretty confident he should be available." Beveridge also said, "You don't run on your hands, so if you've got a bruised heel it can cause some issues, but we think that's improving."

Wednesday training load

Bontempelli spent most of Wednesday's main session running laps rather than joining full work. That followed a Friday night in which he still produced 33 disposals and kicked two goals against Fremantle, then spent a large period of the last quarter on the bench before returning to the ground and kicking a soaring goal.

The 30-year-old has been carrying the knee issue since the round six defeat to Geelong, and Beveridge said the midfielder's pain threshold keeps him available more often than most players. "It's a pretty high bar, as far as the pain threshold for him with discomfort," he said.

Bulldogs selection pressure

That tolerance has shaped selection before. Beveridge said, "He's missed a game here and there, and he missed the start of last year because he had to." He also floated the idea of a rest after last Friday night, but said that becomes harder with other key players missing through injury.

Bontempelli has played 266 games for the Bulldogs since debuting in 2014, and his availability leaves the club weighing short-term management against the need to keep its best midfielder on the park against Port Adelaide. For Bulldogs fans, the immediate answer is clear: he is expected to play, but the load around him already shows the club is treating every minute carefully.