Western Bulldogs set to open contract talks with coach Luke Beveridge

[bulldogtragic]

How is this news? The parties have not yet spoken, and hope to speak soon.

[jeemak]

Saints definitely left it too late, the door was ajar and Freo pounced. I think they are much better off with Richo anyway.

Agree they're in a good position with their current coach. You have to remember however, they really botched their first crack at changing things after Lyon and are lucky to have had a second crack at Richardson.

If we've learned nothing else from the BMac era (and from the competition this year) it's that irrespective of seemingly normal circumstances there's no need to extend contracts of coaches prematurely - let alone after only after 19 months in the top job.

It's a stressful job, but one that needs to be incentivised through strong performance. I don't want to extend terms to our key strategic employee until his strategic value is clearly demonstrated via a genuine pattern of strong performance.

He's not far off from demonstrating that if the trend continues, but there's no harm in waiting for a moment whilst he's still under contract.

[soupman]

Saints definitely left it too late, the door was ajar and Freo pounced. I think they are much better off with Richo anyway.

Not really he still had a whole year left on his contract when Freo bought it out. If anything it showed contracts are worthless when it comes to poaching.

[LostDoggy]

Not really he still had a whole year left on his contract when Freo bought it out. If anything it showed contracts are worthless when it comes to poaching.

Not sure it was bought out - he had an exit clause in his contract which he took up. Exit clause or no exit clause, he would have made it to Freo. Agree contracts are worthless these days.

[1eyedog]

Not really he still had a whole year left on his contract when Freo bought it out. If anything it showed contracts are worthless when it comes to poaching.

Yep. Contracts in general aren't worth the paper they're printed on.

[LostDoggy]

But he is already contracted for 2017 so I don't see the need to rush.

Bevo has been brilliant for us so far, and I hope he can take us to the promised land, but I really think we should be having these discussions this time next year... Lots of water to go under the bridge until then.

By this time next year he'll have at least informally agreed to terms with an AFL club for 2018. We need to ensure that club is us.

I'm not talking a ten year extension, but another 1–2 years is worth the risk. If we sacked him before 4 years I'd be livid anyway.