How Bevo's selection tough love bucks the trend

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UNDERSTANDING the Western Bulldogs' success means grasping the frank relationship between premiership coach Luke Beveridge and his troops.

Beveridge is a clinical and innovative operator with a rough-and-tumble exterior who expertly maintains a reputation as a players' coach despite his tough-love approach with selection.
Much was made of his decision to dump Jake Stringer to the VFL late last year, but a closer inspection of 2016 and 2017 so far reveals those hard calls are part of the coach's blueprint.

Beveridge's Bulldogs racked up 24 unforced changes last season, with only bottom-eight clubs Fremantle and Melbourne (both 28) and Richmond (25) making more.
By contrast, Sydney's triumphant 2012 squad and Hawthorn's in 2013 recorded only seven and 10 unforced changes, respectively.

Stringer's premiership teammates Joel Hamling, Toby McLean, Fletcher Roberts and Josh Dunkley also fell victim to the axe last year.
It took until round 19 for Zaine Cordy to break into the senior squad, while 2013 No.1 pick Tom Boyd spent five long rounds in the VFL after a shoulder injury cost him six weeks.

There was also Beveridge's cold-as-ice demotion on finals eve for Nathan Hrovat. Not all stories have a fairytale ending, and Hrovat is now a Kangaroo.

The trend has continued, with premiership players McLean and Shane Biggs (twice each), Caleb Daniel, Tom Liberatore, Cordy and Roberts all being dropped this season.
Liberatore – the Stringer of 2017, or the biggest fish in the out-of-favour pond – Cordy, Roberts and McLean felt Beveridge's wrath in one hit ahead of the Dogs' round nine match against Geelong.
"It's probably not pleasant, especially happening twice. You definitely don't get used to it," Biggs told AFL.com.au.

"But Bevo does it in a way where everyone gets a turn almost and, especially if you're out of form, you sort of know it's coming.

"It's healthy to go back and work on your game, because it's sometimes easier to work on your game at the lower level."

Shane Biggs has felt the axe twice in 2017 already. Picture: AFL Photos
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Big-name recruit Travis Cloke knows the feeling all too well from his time at Collingwood, but his new coach delivered another dose last week.

Jack Redpath, after a combined five goals in his two AFL games back from knee surgery, and Cloke were among the round 10 outs.
"I don't think anyone (at the Bulldogs) sees going back as a real step down," Biggs said.
"It's not, 'You're dropped and you can see yourself not getting in for eight weeks'. It's a real time to grow and it can happen within one week, or two or three.
"Everyone knows what's going on and you know where you're at and there are a lot of conversations being had around the game, so there's no grey (area)."

Clubs love analysing the reigning premier's strategies and methods then adopting some of them. Whether Beveridge's selection ruthlessness becomes a new fad is worth watching for.

But it must be noted that two of the Bulldogs' greatest flag rivals, Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney, are going the other way this year.
The Crows (four) have made the fewest unforced changes, while the Giants – although battling injury far more than Adelaide or the Dogs – and another frontrunner, Port Adelaide, have just one more.

Beveridge has made 14, tied with Geelong and Melbourne, and behind only the Brisbane Lions (17) and Richmond (15).


Team changes since the start of 2016

CLUB	UNFORCED	FORCED	TOTAL
Melbourne	42	36	78
Richmond	40	44	84
Brisbane Lions	39	49	88
Western Bulldogs	38	42	80
Fremantle	37	38	75
Collingwood	35	46	81
Hawthorn	35	39	74
Geelong	34	47	81
West Coast	33	36	69
Sydney	32	41	73
Gold Coast	30	60	90
Essendon	29	58	87
Port Adelaide	28	30	58
Carlton	27	39	66
St Kilda	21	41	62
GWS Giants	20	42	62
North Melbourne	18	47	65
Adelaide	16	29	45

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs

As far as I'm concerned if you are a top 4 team making as many changes as we are you have ok depth.

Reputation doesn't get you into this team, doing what the coach asks does.

Who has not t improved sinc being dropped ? Macrae, hunter , Tboyd, stringer, Roberts and recently Biggs dropped and they have come back better players. Like what Biggs mentions about players knowing it and have the right communication to them on what to improve and learn from.

Maybe Campbell has not yet improved because he has limitations.

Hope Cloke comes back and starts taking ripping pack marks and destroy defends like in 2010

Bmac put the line in the sand with Jacko, called him out and it was probably the best thing that happened to him.

Bevo has perfected it, but the above mentioned moment was when I realised we were trying to be a serious club that really develops its young players.

The man pops up everywhere:

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WESTERN Bulldogs premiership coach Luke Beveridge has spent the past few days embedded with Queensland's State of Origin rugby league team.

Beveridge was a personal guest of Queensland coach Kevin Walters thanks to a connection through sponsor EML.
It's understood Beveridge joined the Queensland camp as early as Monday night.

He attended team meetings, including the 'captain's run' training session at Suncorp Stadium and an emotional presentation from Maroons captain Cameron Smith on Tuesday night.

Beveridge was pictured in the Queensland rooms at Wednesday night's game, decked out in an official team polo shirt.
A Queensland rugby league source confirmed Beveridge was welcomed into the inner-sanctum of the team's coaching unit on match night, including all the pre-match and post-game meetings.

It's understood Walters is also keen to learn from Beveridge's coaching experience, and the Bulldogs could return the favour at some point in the future.

Beveridge's appearance seemed to have little impact on the field, as New South Wales thrashed the Maroons 28-4 in Thursday night's game.

One Maroons official joked to AFL.com.au, "He (Beveridge) is never welcome back mate, because we lost."

A Western Bulldogs spokesman said Beveridge was on leave and not available to comment.

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That Queensland official who said Bevo wasn't welcome again because they lost just doesn't understand the Bevo way. First you go one game behind and then you destroy the opposition in game 2 and 3. It's more fun that way.