Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli says the club’s players were “a bit lackadaisical” after half-time against Essendon, a period when the Bombers finally found their mojo and the top-of-the-ladder Dogs were cruelled by inaccuracy.

The veteran captain put in another stellar game, dominating the Bombers early when the game was hot in the first half. Bontempelli finished with 35 possessions.

“I think some of the things to look back on are how we use the ball, decisions with ball in hand… which probably was a little bit due to their pressure, but I think most of it [was due] to being a bit lackadaisical at times [with the ball],” Bontempelli said after the Dogs’ 34-point win over the besieged Bombers.

After about their opposition’s revival – Essendon booted four third-quarter goals and the Doggies couldn’t manage a major in that quarter – Bontempelli told Channel 7: “We were pretty wasteful (at one point)… if you look at the scoreline”