The Bulldogs' finals hopes are hanging by a thread due to their 1-8 record against sides currently sitting in the top eight.
Frustrating for Bontempelli is they have had opportunities to win all of those eight games, with their biggest losing margin only 22 points.
Sitting ninth, virtually two games behind eighth spot, the Bulldogs might need to win all five of their remaining games to qualify for September.
"It feels like we've been able to fix that part of our game and be a more consistent and reliable team," Bontempelli said on Wednesday.
"But we haven't been able to get that one or two wins against the teams above us.
"So unfortunately, you've got to learn the same lesson every now and again, which hurts you mentally, because we know sort of what it is.
"But at the minute, we've still got a fair few young and inexperienced guys in the team, and getting exposure against those best teams is critical.
"So you've just got to keep pushing on, like it's the only attitude you can have."
A high-scoring and attacking team, the Bulldogs have been hard at work trying to rectify their defensive deficiencies.
"We haven't been able to slow teams down enough, and it's been a lesson we've probably gotten on too many occasions this year," Bontempelli said.
"If you look at our team and some of the numbers around our game is continuing to try and evolve that through this back half.
"It's critical we do, because it is down to that point of the season where we can't afford to drop really any more games if we want to give ourselves the best chance."
Re-signing with the Bulldogs on a four-year deal, the confirmation ended months of speculation about the 29-year-old's future.
Despite the announcement dragging out until late in the season, Bontempelli simply put down the delay to off-field factors, rather than testing the free agency market.
The six-time All-Australian has recently opened a cafe and is preparing to get married in the off-season.
Bontempelli didn't entertain any rival offers, saying it was "always the Bulldogs".
"I think an element of you hopes people are intrigued or interested, and it makes you feel a bit better of yourself," he said.
"But to be honest, I never really considered going anywhere else.
"It's becoming probably more and more rare is what's special (about being a one-club player)."
The six-time Charles Sutton Medallist has played 253 games for the Bulldogs after being taken with pick four in the 2013 draft.
Confirmation of the news came a day after Bontempelli was on Monday night named the club's second-greatest ever player, only behind the legendary Ted Whitten.
"It's hard to comprehend," Bontempelli said of the honour.
"Maybe it's because I'm still playing and you're still very much in the cut-and-thrust of the season.
"Tom (Liberatore, who made the top 25 without being ranked) and I were talking about that the other day, that you can't probably fully appreciate it while you're riding the emotion of this current season."
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