Luke Beveridge accuses rumour mongerers of trying to tear club apart

[bornadog]

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has taken aim at those spreading rumours about his football club, suggesting that they have an "agenda trying to pull us apart."

With his side's premiership defence teetering precariously following four losses in five games, Beveridge has been forced to deal with two major public side issues this week. The first came when forward Jake Stringer took to Instagram to rebuff speculation about a falling out with teammate Jason Johannisen, related to Stringer's former wife Abby Gilmore.

Then on Thursday night the Bulldogs revealed that veteran Travis Cloke was taking indefinite leave from playing as he managed mental health issues. All that comes as the Bulldogs (6-6) try to turn around their on-field fortunes, starting with Saturday night's game against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.

Speaking at the Whitten Oval on Friday, Beveridge conceded there was a risk of the peripheral issues becoming a distraction. "It's there isn't it?" Beveridge said.

"It's up to us whether we let it in. That's why we've got to take care of things we can control to influence good performance. Because in our memory banks in recent times we know what works, we've just got to really delve into that."
While Beveridge said the club's media chief had not been thrilled with Stringer's decision to address the rumours, the coach said he understood why Stringer chose to do it. "Ordinarily we don't encourage our players to go out and make statements or react to rumour, but I can understand why he did," Beveridge said.

"If I put myself in the same position, I would probably want to react or respond, get the facts out there."

Moreover Beveridge pointed the finger at those who had resorted to rumour-mongering. "For it to be beat up into a big issue is pretty disappointing, because it just shows that it's someone with an agenda trying to pull us apart," he said.



We know that we're not playing the best footy, but let's just stick to that, rather than trying to find other things that aren't there."

Beveridge suggested that the proliferation of social media and mass-media coverage could amplify personal struggles, like those of Cloke, who followed former Collingwood teammate Alex Fasolo in going public with his mental health issues. Beveridge said it was important that the media knew where to draw the line. "We don't want it to end up like a paparazzi. That's not Australian," he said.
Cloke, 30, has had indifferent form in his first season at the Bulldogs, playing six games as well as dealing with injury.

Beveridge said that Cloke had not been enjoying the game, although noted that his issues are not entirely to do with football. "The pressure of the game is one thing, but Travis has got other things going on in his life that are compounding the mental wellbeing side of things," he said.

Beveridge said he was happy for Cloke to take time away from the club if need be, but that the forward would continue training with his teammates for now. "We'll wrap our arms around him, and we're really hopeful that he's going to be OK, and re-engage on the field, and start to enjoy his football again, which is really important for his recovery," he said.

"Travis is in that space now. He's probably been dealing with a lot of pressure most of his career, we know he's always been that talk around his goalkicking. I've always marvelled at the way he's managed that."

In better news, Beveridge confirmed that key forward Tom Boyd's calf issue was not major, and that he could return next weekend, as could captain Bob Murphy, who hasn't played since hurting his hamstring in round 10.

Beveridge also flagged the possibility that premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead could play in defence to help the undermanned Dogs backline tries to handle North's tall forward line. Beveridge added that he resisted making wholesale change to the side that was heavily beaten by Melbourne because few players at VFL level had made compelling cases to be promoted.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan spoke about Cloke's struggles on 3AW on Friday morning. He said players should stay off social media, which some sport pyschologists had also recently suggested.

"Social media is a huge challenge. [There is] all-consuming commentary through social media [and] players go on there and are drawn into it," McLachlan told 3AW.

"I'm not sure why players go on there, it's obviously part of the younger generation's lives [but] I think the easiest way home on that one is not to be on there."

[Topdog]

Seems like we are going for an "us against the World" mentality.

[bulldogtragic]

Seems like we are going for an "us against the World" mentality.

It worked very well last year.

[bornadog]

It worked very well last year.

It has been like that since 1883 - bring it on.

[Remi Moses]

Couldn't agree more with sticking to the footy side mantra . The baseless lazy rumour mongering does my head in

[LostDoggy]

After the public comments of our coach and our captain this week, we really need to display a rabid intensity this week. Gonna be a fascinating game. If we get things clicking, we are still in a position to get right back into this season. Carn Dogs.

[bornadog]

After the public comments of our coach and our captain this week, we really need to display a rabid intensity this week. Gonna be a fascinating game. If we get things clicking, we are still in a position to get right back into this season. Carn Dogs.

Plus, I wanna see Stringer firing this week.

[bulldogtragic]

Plus, I wanna see Stringer firing this week.

Yep. And I want to see JJ firing especially this week. Baseless rumours, two of his worst games ever and the media attention. Show something JJ.

[Ozza]

Having watched the Press Conference....(not surprisingly) the headline overstates Bevo's position a bit.

The article/headline makes it sound more guns blazing than it was.

[1eyedog]

Seems like we are going for an "us against the World" mentality.

It's what we always wanted didn't we? being tired of being everyone's second team. It's a big team mentality I like it.

[josie]

Good on Bevo. Reckon the boys will come out firing. Stringer to kick 5 with his big mate Redpath scaring the bejesus out of the Roos backmen. JJ to return to form and sign up within next week (fingers crossed).

[Eastdog]

Couldn't agree more with sticking to the footy side mantra . The baseless lazy rumour mongering does my head in

Totally agree Remi. It does my head in as well. Let's just stick to the footy.

[Eastdog]

Yep. And I want to see JJ firing especially this week. Baseless rumours, two of his worst games ever and the media attention. Show something JJ.

Yep really hoping for big game from Jake and Jason. We know what they can give us but they have to show it on Saturday night.

[anfo27]

Good on Bevo. Reckon the boys will come out firing. Stringer to kick 5 with his big mate Redpath scaring the bejesus out of the Roos backmen. JJ to return to form and sign up within next week (fingers crossed).

I thought that last week. Even heard on the radio before the game Murphy said 'get a seat early'. I did get a seat early & i didn't see anything that i liked. Words mean little, its actions i want to see! Lets start with some hard work defensively.