AFL
16 hours ago
Darcy or Bontempelli? Why “amazing” young forward is the Dogs’ most important signature
By Lachlan Geleit
Triple premiership forward Cameron Mooney is certain that Sam Darcy is the most important signing for the Western Bulldogs this season.
The Dogs have 17 players coming out of contract at the end of the 2025 season including Adam Treloar, Ed Richards, Tom Liberatore and even superstar captain Marcus Bontempelli – but Mooney thinks that Darcy is the one they need to keep most.
The 21-year-old has played just 28 career games but began to shine in 2024, kicking 38 goals from 21 games and Mooney saw enough in the 208cm talent to be convinced that he’s the key piece the club should build around for the next decade.
“I think he’s the most important player there,” Mooney said on SEN Breakfast.
“I think he’s going to be a genuine superstar. I’m not saying anything that most people already don’t know.
“We talk about Bont and that he was re-signing. Bont is clearly one of the, if not the greatest Bulldog of all time, depending on who you ask.
“But going forward for the next 10 years Sam Darcy is the most important signing for this football club.”
Having played 221 games primarily as an AFL key forward, Mooney knows more than most about what it takes to succeed in the role and he thinks that Darcy has all of the intangibles to dominate inside 50 throughout his career.
“He’s got everything that you would want your key forward to be. Everything,” Mooney added.
“I’m in love with him. I just think he’s amazing.
“He’s got a little bit of crankiness about him, doesn’t mind throwing a little bit around. His ability in the air for a guy who has still got to put on some weight (is amazing), he reads the play so well.
“He is everything that I would want in a young key forward.”
Former GWS captain Phil Davis thinks that the Bulldogs will be forced to stump up to keep Darcy at the Whitten Oval, tipping the forward and young West Coast star Harley Reid to be the first two players offered $20 million in some capacity.
