The one player Western Bulldogs can’t afford to lose

Dwayne Russell has urged Western Bulldogs to hand Marcus Bontempelli a seven-year contract.

The 22-year-old star midfielder is out of contract at the end of 2019 and the Sportsday co-host said the Dogs couldn’t afford to lose the “franchise” player.

“The Dogs can’t do without Marcus Bontempelli – he’s their Patrick Cripps or Nat Fyfe,” he said.

“He’s become too much of a franchise icon to let him go.

“A (seven-year deal) is the least they should give him.”

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