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Additionally, superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli landed awkwardly on his knee during last weeks\u2019 75-point thumping at the hands of Geelong, but managed to play out the match as he simultaneously dealt with a hard tag from Oisin Mullin.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Fox Footy\u2019s On The Couch on Monday night, Lewis put the Dogs\u2019 defence in the spotlight, accompanied by match vision, having conceded 235 points across the last two weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing I want to put under the microscope is their defence. It was prior to this game as well, so it\u2019s not jut because of the Lobb and O\u2019Donnell injuries, but it\u2019s quite stark,\u201d Lewis began.<\/p>\n
\u201cShould Rory Lobb really be handing over Shannon Neale to Buku Khamis? I don\u2019t think so … should Bailey Dale be taking front position on Jack Martin, who mind you, had a really good game?<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, their defence lacks leadership and fight at the moment … I think they\u2019ve got too many ball-watchers, and not enough ball users or leadership.<\/p>\n
Dour Bevo addresses injury ‘carnage’ | 09:22<\/p>\n
While Lobb\u2019s availability is yet to be determined for Round 7, Lewis flagged a shock magnet move the Bulldogs coach could make involving Bontempelli, who is widely viewed as the AFL\u2019s best midfielder in the game right now.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe conversation now will come: how do they fill those positions? Lobb might play, O\u2019Donnell might be out for a couple of weeks … I think Bontempelli (is the answer),\u201d Lewis said.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of the conversation will be: \u2018Well, why don\u2019t you put Bontempelli forward now that Darcy\u2019s out?\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve all played with great defenders and great communicators. Alex Rance, Nick Vlastuin, Luke Hodge, Tom Stewart \u2014 these types are hard to measure, but their stuff behind the ball can compensate for errors that happen further up the field. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re leaking at the moment. I think Bontempelli, a great communicator and leader, will command respect in that defensive end \u2014 but also a good ball user. You look at their ball users in their back end, and they\u2019ve dropped away.<\/p>\n
BAILEY DALE \u2014 AFL RATING LAST THREE YEARS
2024: #9
2025: #6
2026: #105<\/p>\n
Bailey Dale (left), Marcus Bontempelli (centre) and Ed Richards (right) of the Bulldogs pose after being named in the AFL All-Australian Team during the 2025 AFL Awards at Melbourne’s Centrepiece on August 28, 2025 (Photo by Michael Willson via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cBailey Dale was a top 10 player in the league these last couple of years, he\u2019s dropped down to 105. You\u2019re not getting much out of his ball use, and you\u2019re not getting much out of his defensive work as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a glaring issue. They\u2019re stacked in the midfield, they\u2019ve got depth in that midfield. Bontempelli for me at half-back would change their fortunes going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n