An American sports journalist has angered footy fans by launching a stunning attack on Western Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli.
Sports Illustrated reporter Grant Cohn, who covers the San Francisco 49ers, took aim at the Bulldogs captain after watching his side lose their AFL elimination final against Adelaide on Saturday.
Cohn is in Australia ahead of the 49ers’ clash with the Los Angeles Rams at the MCG on Friday.
However, it was his assessment of one of the AFL’s most celebrated players that attracted attention before the NFL teams had even taken the field.
Cohn said he had just left an appearance on Channel Nine’s Today show when he decided to reveal what he did not like about Australia.
‘You know what they didn’t ask? What I don’t like about Australia,’ he said in a video posted to social media.
American journalist Grant Cohn angered Australian footy fans after attacking Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli while visiting Melbourne
He claimed Bontempelli failed when it mattered as the Bulldogs exited the finals following Saturday’s loss in Adelaide
‘If they had, I would have said Marcus Bontempelli.
‘Man, ever since I’ve got to Australia, all I hear is Bontempelli this, Bontempelli that. Watch out for the Bont. The Bont’s the goat. Does it get any better than Marcus Bontempelli?’
Cohn then questioned Bontempelli’s performance in the Bulldogs’ 22-point finals defeat at Adelaide Oval.
The 30-year-old finished with 27 disposals despite being closely followed by Crows tagger Daniel Curtin during the early stages of the contest.
Bontempelli tried to drag his side over the line during the final quarter, but the Crows kicked five of the last six goals to win 14.6 (90) to 9.14 (68).
Cohn was far less impressed and focused on the midfielder’s single behind.
‘Well, hey, maybe that was true in the past, but since I’ve been here, I watched him play,’ he said.
‘Adelaide, what do you do? What do you do against Adelaide? He lost. Kicked one, had one shot. What you call that? A behind. It was a behind. It wasn’t even through the uprights. It was through the other uprights, and I’m supposed to be impressed by the Bont.’
Cohn compared The Bont to Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who remains winless across three NFL playoff appearances to date
Cohn also questioned whether Bontempelli belonged alongside Tom Papley, Patrick Dangerfield and Bailey Smith before making an NFL comparison designed to sting.
‘You want to be called the Bont? Why don’t you beat Adelaide? You know what I mean?’ Cohn said.
‘You want to be in the same breath as Tom Papley and Patrick Dangerfield, Bailey Smith? Do something when it counts, or are you a regular season champ?
‘I want to see who shows up in the finals, and you know who didn’t? The Bont.
‘Okay, it seems to me that he’s essentially the Justin Herbert of AFL players, and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, look it up, Aussies. Not impressed.’
Herbert is the Los Angeles Chargers quarterback who has established himself as one of the NFL’s leading talents but remains winless from three playoff appearances.
He has thrown two touchdown passes and seven interceptions in the postseason, including four interceptions in a loss to the Houston Texans.
The Chargers also famously surrendered a 27-0 lead against the Jacksonville Jaguars during Herbert’s playoff debut.
The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in a historic NFL showdown at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Rams are the designated home team despite travelling nearly 13,000 kilometres to meet the 49ers in Melbourne
Australian footy fans quickly hit back at Cohn, with one saying his comments should see him removed from the country.
‘You’ve been great Grant but this should lead to you being deported. No one disses the Bont!’ the supporter wrote.
Another branded the assessment ‘stupid ragebait’, while one said Cohn was ‘carrying on like a pork chop’.
‘Not a Dogs fan but 27 disposals is a solid game,’ another fan posted.
‘The Bont is probably one of the most universally liked players even among oppo fans.’
One supporter who follows both the Bulldogs and Herbert’s Chargers understood the comparison, writing: ‘As a Western Bulldogs and LA Chargers fan I know exactly what you’re talking about.’
Another suggested Cohn should visit Arthur’s Milk Bar, the Kew cafe co-owned by Bontempelli, and review the food.
Cohn’s visit is centred on Friday’s landmark meeting between the 49ers and Rams, which will be the first NFL regular-season fixture played in Australia.
The Rams are the designated home team for the match, which begins at 10.35am AEST.
