Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson believes Marcus Bontempelli might be the top Dog, by the time he finishes his career.

The 24-year-old already boasts an illustrious record, which includes a premiership, three Charles Sutton Medals and two All Australian guernseys.

And his coach, Luke Beveridge, believes he’s only getting better.

The captaincy has sat well with Bontempelli and despite the Bulldogs’ inconsistent season, Beveridge has seen plenty of growth in his star midfielder.

"I have said in the past that our midfield is so interconnected that if one or two of them has a down day, it effects the rest of us, and the flow on is we are really on the back foot as a team," Beveridge said.

"He has been very, very influential this year, Marcus.

He’s had to grow into his captaincy responsibilities and bones and juggle an inauspicious start to the year as a team to try to lead through action and words. He has come through that with flying colours.”

Beveridge believes Bontempelli’s work without the ball goes under the radar – while he has improved his aerial capabilities.

"What Marcus probably doesn't get strong acknowledgment for is what he does when he hasn’t got the ball in his hands. His game last week was such a rounded, complete performance,” he said.

"What he’s added to his game this year, which probably started from the Sydney Swans game, is now an aerial component. It’s sort of been there in the background, but he hasn't really established himself as an aerial threat.

“Now, he’s taken more contested marks in recent times and so we can use him and he can actually impose himself in different situations, where he hasn't necessarily in the past.

"He is becoming a really complete player."

Johnson, one of the club’s all-time greats, believes Bontempelli may eventually displace Scott West and Chris Grant as the best Bulldog ever.

“By the time he finishes and probably plays 300 games for the football club and wins his five or six best and fairests along the way, he’s got the ability to sit at number one by the end of his career,” Johnson said on RSN’s Breakfast Club.

“I’m talking about going past Scott West who won six best and fairests, going past the best player I ever saw and played with in Chris Grant.

“He’s really grown into a great leader and I think that’s another aspect to why we judge him so well and sometimes harshly. 

“He’s going forward again and kicking some goals and I think that adds to why he can become such a great midfielder.”