Bont AFL snub claims laughable: Brad Scott

Brad Scott has bristled at claims of snubbing Western Bulldogs whiz kid Marcus Bontempelli in the AFL Coaches’ Association award.

Coaches from both teams vote after every AFL game, awarding a total of 10 votes on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis.

Bontempelli laid nine tackles, tallied 19 possessions and booted a goal in the Bulldogs’ 14-point win over North Melbourne.

The 20-year-old, who North tried to intimidate physically throughout the contest, was awarded a total of five votes from the game.

News Corp Australia reported all five came from the Bulldogs, speculating North coach Scott could have been influenced by comments Bontempelli made earlier this year regarding Lindsay Thomas.

Scott wouldn’t confirm how he voted but made it clear he thought the Bulldogs’ defenders were more influential than Bontempelli.

“They’re confidential – I can’t tell you,” Scott said on Wednesday.

“But it was a 14-point game; our midfield (had) more clearances and more contested possessions.

“We thought our midfield was OK, but we thought the Bulldogs’ defenders were exceptional. So you don’t have to be too smart to work out where we apportioned our votes.

“Bontempelli was good but there were nine players who got votes.

“To suggest there was a snub is just so far off the mark it’s laughable.”

Regarding the report, Scott noted “someone either made it up and it’s wrong, or there’s been a breach (of confidentiality”.

“But it’s not a big issue. It’s a tiny issue in the scheme of things,” he said.

“If you did a little bit deeper, you’ll work it out – that’s all I will say.”

Bontempelli trails leader Patrick Dangerfield by 21 votes in the race for the Coaches’ Association award.

AFLCA leaderboard after round 20:

99 – Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)

93 – Rory Sloane (Adel)

84 – Dustin Martin (Rich)

78 – Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

73 – Joel Selwood (Geel)

AFLCA votes from Bulldogs v North:

8 Matthew Boyd (WB)

5 Marcus Bontempelli (WB)

5 Easton Wood (WB)

3 Luke Dahlhaus (WB)

3 Jason Johannisen (WB)

2 Tory Dickson (WB)

2 Jamie Macmillan (North)

1 Ben Cunnington (North)

1 Fletcher Roberts (WB)

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