Western Bulldogs Salaries: Marcus Bontempelli’s $8M Deal and the Weight of Expectations

Marcus Bontempelli commands more than $1.2 million annually. That makes him the AFL’s highest-paid captain alongside Patrick Cripps. The difference? Cripps hasn’t played finals since 2013. Bontempelli loses them regularly.

The Bulldogs finished 9th in 2024 with a 10-13 record, missing finals on percentage. They’ve made finals five times since winning the 2016 premiership but lost every elimination or semi-final. The 2021 Grand Final appearance feels like ancient history now—they haven’t won a final since.

Luke Beveridge enters his 11th season as coach under mounting pressure. The Dogs spent aggressively: Bontempelli ($1.2M), Jamarra Ugle-Hagan ($800K), Rory Lobb ($600K traded). Yet they can’t break through. Something’s fundamentally broken beyond salary cap allocation.

Explore detailed player profiles and career earnings by clicking on any Western Bulldogs player’s name.

The $8 Million Captain Who Can’t Win Finals

Marcus Bontempelli signed a seven-year extension through 2027 worth approximately $8-8.5 million total. That’s $1.15-1.25 million annually for the five-time All-Australian captain.

He’s worth every cent during the regular season—26.8 disposals per game in 2024, elite leadership, Brownlow Medal contention yearly.

Then finals arrive and the Bulldogs disappear. They’ve lost five consecutive finals since reaching the 2021 Grand Final. Bontempelli’s personal finals record since 2016: 7 wins, 7 losses. The 2016 premiership feels increasingly like a fluke rather than foundation.

Compare this to Patrick Dangerfield. The Geelong star earned similar money for years before winning the 2022 flag. Critics called him a choker until he wasn’t. Bontempelli faces the same scrutiny. Elite regular season player, finals question mark.

Adam Treloar arrived from Collingwood in 2020 on a deal worth approximately $4 million through 2025. He earns roughly $750,000-850,000 annually after Collingwood paid $300K of his salary for three years. The 31-year-old averaged 28.1 disposals in 2024 but couldn’t lift the Dogs into finals.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan signed a five-year extension through 2028 worth approximately $4 million total. The 22-year-old earns $750,000-850,000 annually after kicking 38 goals in 2024.

That’s big money for a developing forward still learning his craft. The Bulldogs bet he becomes elite. Time will tell.

The Rory Lobb Disaster: $2.4M Down the Drain

The Bulldogs traded for Rory Lobb from Fremantle in 2022, sending Pick 30 and future third-rounder to the Dockers. They inherited his four-year contract paying approximately $600,000-700,000 annually. The gamble? A 200cm ruckman-forward solving their key position problems.

Lobb played 24 games across two injury-affected seasons before requesting trade to Western Australia after 2024. The Bulldogs lost him to Port Adelaide for Pick 58—essentially giving him away.

They paid approximately $1.2-1.4 million over two years for 24 games and zero finals appearances.

Compare this to Melbourne’s Luke Jackson trade. The Demons sent Jackson to Fremantle for picks 13 and future first-rounder. That’s elite trade value. The Bulldogs gave away Pick 30 for Lobb then received Pick 58 back. They lost approximately $1.4 million and draft capital in the process.

This pattern repeats. The Dogs traded Josh Dunkley to Brisbane for picks 21 and future second-rounder in 2023. Dunkley won Brisbane’s 2024 premiership kicking clutch goals. The Bulldogs used those picks on Harvey Gallagher (21) and Ryley Sanders (future second-rounder). Combined games: 8.

Every trade decision lately backfires. They let Tom Boyd retire early costing them $6 million over two wasted years. They recruited Stefan Martin (one season, retired). They traded for Lobb (disaster). Meanwhile, Brisbane builds premierships with their discards.

Tim English: The $5M Question Nobody’s Asking

Tim English signed a six-year extension through 2029 worth approximately $5 million total. He earns roughly $800,000-900,000 annually as the Bulldogs’ number one ruckman. The 27-year-old averaged 15.3 disposals and 28.9 hit-outs in 2024—solid but not elite numbers.

Here’s the problem: English wants to be a midfielder. He’s openly discussed preferring running patterns to ruck contests. The Bulldogs pay him $850K to do a job he doesn’t fully embrace. That’s a recipe for long-term dissatisfaction and potential trade requests.

Compare English’s output to Max Gawn ($950K at Melbourne) or Brodie Grundy ($1M at various clubs). Both deliver 30+ hit-outs and 18+ disposals consistently. English falls short in both categories despite similar salary. The Bulldogs overpaid for potential rather than production.

The English extension came after Bulldogs lost Josh Dunkley and contemplated trading English himself. They chose keeping him, but did they choose correctly? His form plateaued. His passion for rucking remains questionable. His contract runs through 2029 regardless.

Why Melbourne’s 2021 Flag Haunts the Bulldogs

The 2021 Grand Final: Melbourne 74, Western Bulldogs 69. Five points separated the clubs. The Demons got their first flag since 1964. The Bulldogs got nothing except painful memories.

Since that night, Melbourne reached finals four times with two Preliminary Finals appearances. The Bulldogs made finals three times losing immediately each time. Both teams peaked simultaneously. One capitalized. One didn’t.

Financial comparison shows why. Melbourne invested $26-28 million across their top five players: Max Gawn ($950K), Christian Petracca ($1M), Clayton Oliver ($950K), Steven May ($850K), Jake Lever ($750K). That’s elite talent concentration.

Western Bulldogs spread similarly: Bontempelli ($1.2M), English ($850K), Treloar ($800K), Ugle-Hagan ($800K), Bailey Smith ($600K). Comparable spending. Different results.

The difference isn’t money. It’s list management ruthlessness. Melbourne traded Luke Jackson ($800K) for two first-rounders the moment he became expensive. The Bulldogs keep every player too long hoping loyalty breeds success.

Bailey Smith requested trade to Geelong after 2024. The Bulldogs could’ve extracted two first-round picks. Instead, they negotiated down to Pick 15. That’s the difference: Melbourne maximizes every transaction, Western Bulldogs accept less hoping relationships matter more.

FAQs

How much does Marcus Bontempelli earn at the Bulldogs?

Marcus Bontempelli earns $1.15-1.25 million annually on his seven-year extension through 2027 worth approximately $8-8.5 million total. That makes him the AFL’s equal-highest paid captain alongside Carlton’s Patrick Cripps, though Bontempelli has played significantly more finals (7-7 record since 2016 flag).

Why can’t the Bulldogs win finals anymore?

The Bulldogs have lost five consecutive finals since reaching the 2021 Grand Final, missing finals entirely in 2022 and 2024. They’ve traded away clutch performers (Josh Dunkley won Brisbane’s 2024 premiership), made poor recruitment decisions (Rory Lobb $1.4M for 24 games), and lack the ruthless list management separating contenders from pretenders.

Was the Rory Lobb trade Western Bulldogs’ worst decision?

The Bulldogs traded Pick 30 for Rory Lobb in 2022, paying him $600,000-700,000 annually. He played 24 injury-affected games across two seasons before requesting trade back to WA. They received Pick 58 in return from Port Adelaide, losing approximately $1.4 million and draft capital—one of their worst trades alongside the Tom Boyd $6M disaster.

Why did Bailey Smith leave the Bulldogs?

Bailey Smith requested trade to Geelong after 2024 seeking fresh environment. The Bulldogs accepted Pick 15 despite Smith’s talent warranting two first-rounders. This reflects Western Bulldogs’ pattern of accepting poor trade returns—Josh Dunkley went for picks 21 and future second despite being elite midfielder, while Melbourne extracted picks 13 and future first for Luke Jackson.