Other Untitled Footy Career Game: The Bont in the 2021 Grand Final

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Mahama

Mahama

Team Captain
Dec 28, 2003
458
446
Canberra
AFL Club
Western Bulldogs
With the build up to the Grand Final dragging on, and tomorrow night somehow seeming further away now than it was a week ago, I’ve decided to occupy myself by creating the story of a single match – the 2021 AFL Grand Final between the Melbourne Demons and Western Bulldogs, playing as the one and only Marcus ‘The Bont’ Bontempelli.

I used a little game I’ve been working on – something of a spiritual successor to Footy Star – which I’ve tentatively called Footy Legend. It’s early days yet, and the UI is setup for mobile which isn’t ideal, but I’ve got a match engine up and going that I’m pleased with, and I think has the potential to tell some great stories.

It was a lot of fun, and fair to say the result left my pulse racing and somewhat dreading what the real thing is going to do to my heart tomorrow. I hope a few people enjoy the read!



The Setup

2021 AFL Grand Final
Melbourne Demons vs Western Bulldogs
Saturday September 25, 5:15pm AWST
Optus Stadium, Perth

Melbourne Demons
It’s hard to argue against Melbourne having been the best team all year. They’re incredibly strong in the midfield and defence, and have a solid attack that has gotten the job done. They’re certainly favourites going into the game, and their attributes to reflect that.

Offence: 17
Defence: 20
Physical: 19
Mental: 20
Technical: 19
Overall: 19


Western Bulldogs
The Dogs have been one of the best teams this year, though with a poor patch towards the end of the year that has seen their chances of winning the flag fall away according to most analysts. Like Melbourne they have a great midfield, and a strong defence and attack. Being the underdogs though, their attributes are behind Melbourne’s in all areas.

Offence: 16
Defence: 16
Physical: 17
Mental: 17
Technical: 16
Overall: 16

The Bont

Bulldogs Captain, premiership player, 4 time-All Australian, 3 time Best and Fairest, AFLPA MVP 2021, AFLCA Player of the Year 2019 and runner up in the Rising Star to fellow legend of the sport Lewis Taylor.

The Bont is a special player, able to work his way out of traffic and find targets by foot at any distance. Works just as hard defensively, and with his size is an aerial threat. If the Dogs want to win, Bont needs to dominate – and if these attributes, he just may…

Position: Midfield
Archetype: Silky

Determination: 20
Leadership: 20
Poise: 20
Positioning: 18
Vision: 20
Work Rate: 20

Agility: 19
Jumping: 18
Kick Power: 19
Pace: 17
Stamina: 20
Strength: 19

Goal Kicking: 18
Handballing: 20
Kicking: 20
Marking: 19
Spoiling: 17
Tackling: 19

Overall: 19

Traits: Born Leader, Clutch, Gut Runner, Poised, Visionary, Big Engine, Cannon, Slippery, Strongman, All Tied Up, Laser Guided, Quick Hands.
Legendary Traits: Determination, Vision, Kicking.

Game Time

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Here we go…
 
First Quarter – The Arm Wrestle

As you might expect in a Grand Final, things are tough and tight to begin with. Melbourne gets on the scoreboard first after 2 minutes with a behind from a tough shot 47m out, and the Bulldogs have a behind of their own 7 minutes later after a missed set shot from 38m. Another Bulldogs set shot seconds later goes out on the full, and it’s clear the pressure is telling.

11 minutes in and the game steps up a notch. Bont wins a free for holding the ball after a bone-crunching tackle, and proceeds to slot a monster goal from 55m!

This seems to wake the Dees up however, and they respond with two quick goals. Both teams trade 3 goals each after that, and the quarter ends with the ball deep in Bulldogs territory, and the Demons holding a narrow 8 point lead.

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The stats show the Demons had plenty of the ball that quarter, though struggled to convert that possession into Inside 50s. 10 shots to 7 will worry the Dogs, though they defended hard with a large advantage in intercept marks and one percenters. Also, the Dees lead the free kick count 7-4 [that must be a bug surely].

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It was a monster quarter for the Bont – 14 touches going at 100% efficiency, reminiscent of his 2016 Grand Final. The opening goal of the game and 347 metres gained pretty well sum up how much of an influence he had in keeping the Dogs in touch. He didn’t have a rest all quarter though, and will likely need one before half time, and the Dogs are sure to be tested when he does eventually head to the bench.

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On to the second quarter…
 
Second Quarter – Good Kicking is Good Footy and Bont Goes Ballistic

Bont wastes no time continuing on from his strong first quarter, grabbing the ball inside 50 and snapping a quick goal under pressure from 27m out, bringing the margin back to just 2.
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Melbourne quickly reasserts their dominance with a goal of their own from a forward 50 stoppage, and then peppers the scoreboard with behinds for the next 10 minutes as the Bulldogs and Bont struggle to get their hands on the ball.

Bont finally heads to the bench halfway through the quarter with the margin sitting at 11 points the Dees’ way. Just 6 minutes later, the margin is 24 points and the Bulldogs are in danger of losing touch.
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Coming back on, Bont decides it's time to step it up a notch and take over the game [activate a boost mode that lasts for 5 minutes, which can be done once a game, or twice with the right trait] and put the team on his back like only Bont can.

He intercepts a poor kick from a Dees defender and kicks an easy goal from 42m out. Moments later he gets another, getting on the end of beautiful service from a ruck contest inside forward 50 and nailing the goal from 53m!
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The Demons steady with a set shot goal just before half time, and head into the main break with a 12 point lead.

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The stats now look far more damning for the Bulldogs, with the Dees gaining a big advantage in inside 50s. Kicking accuracy is clearly the only thing keeping the Dogs in the game, with Melbourne only managing 9 goals from 20 shots, compared to the Bulldogs’ 8 from 12. Still, on those numbers, you’d expect the flood gates to open sometime after half time if the Dogs don’t improve.

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While the Bulldogs struggle, Bont has just put together one of the greatest halves ever seen by a player in a Grand Final. 24 touches (still at 100% efficiency), 4 goals straight, 6 marks, 5 tackles and 757 metres gained is outrageous. And yet, somehow, he’s going to have to do even more in the second half to give the Dogs a chance at victory.

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The second half awaits…
 

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Third Quarter – What the Hell?

There are far less highlights of Bont this quarter because, to put it bluntly, Melbourne got on top and absolutely dominated, shutting Bont out of the game while they were at it.

Things started evenly enough, with the teams trading 2 goals each in the first 10 minutes of the quarter. The next 15 minutes however – 8 goals to 0. Bont managed a single shot on goal at the 25 minute mark, fending off a would-be tackler and having a go from just outside 50, but missed.
Q3Event2.png

The icing on the cake was the Bulldogs having a set shot from 30 metres out just before three quarter time, and having it smothered by the man on the mark.

The margin is now 59 points.

I imagine at this time Bulldog fans around the country are shell-shocked, while Demons fans are in pure euphoria. Gary Lyon has elbowed Chris Grant out of the way and has one greasy hand firmly on the cup*. The force ghosts of Jim Stynes, Norm Smith and Colin Sylvia appear to Simon Goodwin and share nods of appreciation*. Jason Akermanis has jumped out of the crowd and started teaching Melbourne players how to do victory handstands*. It’s pandemonium.

Just one quarter to go.

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The match stats tell the story. Complete domination from Melbourne in almost every aspect of the game, and no more inaccuracy in front of goal for the Dogs to rely on to stay close.

Even the Bulldogs’ domination in one percenters and intercept marks from the first half has been eroded, and of course with free kicks going Melbourne’s way, the Dogs’ last hope is gone.

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Just the 6 touches and 1 behind for Bont in that quarter. One man can only do so much, and he was clearly overwhelmed by the Demon dominance. Still an incredible game, but fair to say it won’t be enough.

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And so on we go to the final quarter, and the Dogs’ inevitable doom…




*[Not actually programmed into the game… yet]
 
Fourth Quarter Part 1 – Wherein the Drought is Finally Bro—wait what’s happening?!

One thing is immediately clear to Bont – if the Bulldogs are to have even a sniff of winning, he needs to play like some kind of freakish, large-nosed version of Carey, Ablett, Ablett and Whitten combined. Surely not… And yet the Bont does as the Bont does.

A minute into the quarter, Bont spins out of a tackle, run into space and slots an incredible goal from just inside 50. Bulldog fans applaud in appreciation for their brave skipper, but still can’t muster the excitement a goal that good deserves.

53 point margin. 29 minutes to go.
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Minutes later and the Bulldogs get the ball in their defensive 50 and manage to chain out with handballs. Bont receives a handball in the middle of the ground with a Demon player about to tackle him. At this stage, it’s all or nothing, and Bont has decided getting hurried kicks away under pressure isn’t going to be enough. He takes the tackler on, slips away and spears a 60m kick down the throat of a teammate. Set shot. Goal. Dogs fans sit up, Dees fans lose just a bit of their excitement.

47 point margin. 27 minutes to go.


The Bulldogs win 2 frees in quick succession [that’s more realistic now!] and manage 1 goal and 1 behind from the ensuing set shots. Another free kick a minute later and the Bulldogs work the ball by hand inside 50 and have another goal! Demons fans are furious at the sudden flurry of free kicks.

34 point margin. 24 minutes to go.


The run of play stays with the Bulldogs, with Bont continuing to get his hands on the ball, take territory with his run and then sending it forward with his booming left foot. 2 behinds come in the next couple of minutes from tough shots 40m out, before the Bont lays a huge tackle reminiscent of the one in the first quarter. He puts the ball long inside 50 where the Dogs win another free kick [I’m not making this up] and goal from the 20m set shot. Western Australian police start making plans for escorting the umpires to the airport should the Demons end up losing.

26 point margin. 17 minutes to go.


As we reach the halfway point of the quarter, the Bulldogs kick another behind while the Demons are still yet to trouble the scorers. For the next 5 minutes the game turns back into an arm wrestle, with both defence holding up under pressure and neither team able to find their way to goal.

At this point, with the match still just within reach, Bont makes the huge decision to finally come off for his first rest of the half. How the Bulldogs manage without him for the next 5 minutes may decide their fate.

25 point margin. 10 minutes to go.

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In a positive sign for the Bulldogs, a minute later a Dogs player manages to intercept a kick from a Demons defender and nails the set shot from 45m out. Minutes later, the Dogs win a free kick from a marking contest in the goal square, and slot it from point-blank range. Incredibly, they have closed the margin with their captain off the ground. As a fresh Bont re-enters the arena, the game is there for the taking…

13 point margin. 5 minutes left.

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The final 5 minutes are upon us…
 
Fourth Quarter Part 2 – Optus Stadium Runs Out of Defibrillators

As Bont jogs back on he's ready to once again take over the game and drag his club over the line for what would be the most unlikely comeback victory of all time [boost is turned on].

Things don’t go to plan however, as just a minute later Melbourne win a free kick 28m out from goal and put the shot right through the middle, putting an end to a run of 7 straight Bulldog goals. Dee fans breathe a sigh of relief – surely that will be the end of the resistance with so little time left.

19 point margin. 4 minutes 5 seconds left.


The Bulldogs win the ball cleanly out of the middle, chaining two short kicks before putting the ball onto Bont’s chest, who has pushed forward and marked 33m from goal. He goes back and nails the biggest shot of his career, and number 6 for the game!

13 point margin. 3 minutes 30 seconds left.

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The Bulldogs again win the clearance, and once again manage to find Bont who marks, this time just outside 50. It’s a tough choice between attempting to pass to a teammate inside 50 and going for goal, but Bont has decided it’s up to him and goes for it… But misses.

12 point margin. 2 minutes 50 seconds left.

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The Demons send the ball long from the kick in where they manage to take a big contested mark. They turn the ball over before they can get much further up the ground however, and the Bulldogs are able to chain handballs forward before sending a 50m kick to the goal square where who else but the Bont is in a one-on-one marking contest with a Demon defender…

Somehow the defender manages to get a fist in, bringing a roar of approval from Demon fans and a groan from those in red, white and blue.

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But the contest isn’t over yet. The Demon player picks up the ball and attempts the clearing kick, but Bont hits them with a huge tackle and wins a free kick 9m from goal! He kicks his 7th, and rushes back to the middle for the next centre bounce, the stadium shaking from the noise of the Western Australian crowd.

6 point margin. 1 minute 35 seconds left.

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The Bulldogs win the tap straight down to Bont. The temptation is to slam the ball on the boot, but trying to break a tackle and get into some clear air has worked well so far, so he goes for it…

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And dodges away from the tackle brilliantly. Running towards 50 Bont spots his target and sends a 50m bullet straight onto his teammates chest. They slot the set shot from 25m and, somehow, scores are level with only seconds left!

Scores level. 1 minute left.

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Back in the middle, both sides know that if they manage to score in the next minute, the premiership will be theirs.

The ball goes up, and Melbourne win a clean hitout and take possession. They attempt to handball but the ball is smothered and knocked to the ground.

50 seconds left.

Another Demon player takes possession and manages a short kick that finds a teammate. The pressure is immense and they drop the simple mark, but have enough space to pick the ball up and give a short handball to a teammate running past.

30 seconds left.

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The Demon player runs his full measure, goes by hand to a teammate who now has the ball 39m from goal.

20 seconds left.

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Bont, running back hard to defend, is right with him. The Demon player goes for goal… Bont has to decide – tackle or smother?

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He decides to smother, lunging at his opponent’s boot as they try to squeeze the shot away. The stadium holds its breath…

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Bont can’t get there in time. The ball wobbles through for a point. Demons fans erupt. The Bulldogs grab the ball and send it out long from the kick in for one last gasp attempt… But it’s too late. The siren sounds.

Melbourne wins by 1 point.

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Post-Game

[I’ll mention now that I haven’t actually programmed any kind of extra time, so I guess this result was for the best…]

The score worm tells the story of that amazing last quarter. 10 goals for the Bulldogs, including 2 in the last 2 minutes, but the Demons’ behind with 10 seconds to go was just enough to hang on and avoid somehow being beaten after leading by 59 at the last break.

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The stats suggest the Bulldogs were lucky to get as close as they did, with their superior accuracy making sure the game stayed close. Demons win free kicks 24-22, despite the umpires’ best efforts to get the Dogs over the line in the last.

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It’s ironic that in the Grand Final where Melbourne finally manages to break the Norm Smith curse, an opposing player wins the Norm Smith Medal. I don’t think anyone could argue that Bont doesn’t deserve it though.

41 touches at 95% efficiency, 7 goals, 10 marks, 7 tackles, 18 inside 50s and 1624 metres gained... Wow.

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As Max Gawn and Simon Goodwin raise the premiership cup in triumph, and the ambulances queue up outside the stadium to take away the hundreds of heart attack victims, Marcus Bontempelli sheds a quiet tear as he reflects on what might have been...
 
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