Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has stated his captain Marcus Bontempelli is on track to potentially end his career as the club's greatest-ever player, if he isn't there already.
The five-time Charles Sutton Medal winner was exceptional in the early stages of the Bulldogs' 51-point win over Melbourne on Friday night, playing an instrumental role as the Dogs ran rampant over their opponents from the offset.
Bontempelli had 21 disposals, 10 score involvements and eight inside 50s to half-time, with the Demons moving their magnets around to try and quell the Dogs star's impact via a run-with role for midfielder Tom Sparrow.
The premiership Bulldog continued to leave his say on the game as the Dogs cruised to a comfortable victory at Marvel Stadium, led by a best-afield performance from their skipper.
The performance was another to strengthen Bontempelli's prospects of claiming a maiden Brownlow Medal this year, with the 28-year-old set to surpass club greats Gary Dempsey and Scott West for most career votes in the red, white and blue.
Asked if the two-time AFLPA MVP winner was already the best Bulldogs player ever, Beveridge said Bontempelli might be by the time he calls time on his decorated career.
"His first half was extraordinary, wasn't it?" Beveridge said post-game.
"Melbourne have really challenged us over the last few years in particular. They've had our measure with different personnel on both sides.
"But in a game like that where it was high octane, he was quite extraordinary. They sent Tom Sparrow to him in the second quarter and that helped them a little bit, they stabilised the game for a period of time.
"Is he the greatest Bulldog ever? I mean, at the end of his career he just may be. He's got a few years left in him.
"He was brilliant tonight."
Beveridge's Melbourne counterpart Simon Goodwin was left in a mix of awe and frustration as Bontempelli and his fellow Bulldogs midfielders devoured the Demons at Marvel Stadium.
Goodwin touched on Sparrow's attempts to tame the Bulldogs skipper but noted the move may have been too little, too late.
"If he's not the best, he's one of the best (players in the competition)," Goodwin said of Bontempelli.
"He was outstanding again tonight. At quarter time we just had to do something with him. Tom held in there for the majority of the night and did a reasonable job, especially in the second half.
"But he just got away from us. He's a high-quality player."