Thanks Thanks:  3
Likes Likes:  1
Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Wherever the dogs are playing
    Posts
    60,869
    Post Thanks / Like

    Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    LINK



    Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is “really optimistic” his side’s late-season momentum can be carried into next year.

    The Dogs endured a tough 2018 campaign, missing finals for the second consecutive season after their 2016 premiership and finishing with a disappointing 8-14 record.

    But three wins from the last four matches, with the only loss by three points to Richmond, has Beveridge buoyant.

    “Expectation is an interesting and important word. At different times we’ve heightened our expectations and created expectation among our fans and supporters and sometimes that leads to disappointment, which we understand,” Beveridge said.


    We felt we got some real momentum late in the season and that all occurs because there’s a strong belief and resolve among our group in what we do and where it can take us again.”

    Beveridge, speaking at a Western Bulldogs family day at Whitten Oval, said his playing list was now better balanced after bringing in 10 new players through the trade and draft periods.

    “(recruiting manager) Nick Austin and (list manager) Sam Power and the recruiting staff have done a terrific job. Ten new players, just under a quarter of our squad, have entered our club,” he said.

    “The important thing is to indoctrinate them into the Bulldog way, teach them how we want to play and connect with them in a strong manner from a relationship point of view.

    “We had all the parents in yesterday (Friday) and they spent some time with our staff. With new 10 players and our existing 34 we’re really optimistic about what we can do in 2019.”

    The Dogs’ first draft pick, Bailey Smith, is yet to train fully as he recovers from an achilles injury, but captain Easton Wood said the new arrivals had injected enthusiasm.


    “It’s been a really different feel with 10 new boys in. We’re younger again and that brings exciting opportunities and enormous amounts of energy which has been great to see,” Wood said.

    “You can see the excitement and energy and the boys are really going after it at the moment. There’s a lot of speed and agility that’s come in.”

    The Bulldogs on Saturday trained on a lush and green Whitten Oval surface, which hasn’t been in the case in recent years.

    Beveridge channelled his inner green thumb to explain.

    “The curators have done a terrific job. We changed tack this year; normally we kill off the rye and let the couch come through and this year we decided to keep the rye and it’s very green and the boys are enjoying it,” Beveridge said.

    “It’s probably a bit softer than what it has been and it’s held up a treat.”
    But the Dogs will swap the grass for the sand on Monday when they leave for a Torquay training camp.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  2. Thanks Eastdog, kruder thanked for this post
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Frankston
    Posts
    4,587
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    There was some comment here last year about the state of the Whitten oval's surface. Good to know WOOF is informing the club and the players can catch in the rye.
    The emphasis on forming strong family relationships with a quarter of playing personnel being young and new is critical and it must be a very dynamic place to be this preseason.
    Bailey Smith's achillies is being managed conservatively so we will have to wait to see our Cuchulainn let ļoose.
    Last edited by BornInDroopSt'54; 17-12-2018 at 10:51 AM.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    27,890
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by BornInDroopSt'54 View Post
    There was some comment here last year about the state of the Whitten oval's surface. Good to know WOOF is informing the club and the players can catch in the rye.
    The emphasis on forming strong family relationships with a quarter of playing personnel being young and new is critical and it must be a very dynamic place to be this preseason.
    Bailey Smith's achillies is being managed conservatively so we will have to wait to see our Cuchullain let ļoose.
    You're doing what now?
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Frankston
    Posts
    4,587
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    Cuchulainn, legendary Irish warrior, now a Marvel hero with the wrong spelling of Cuchulain.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cú_Chulainn

  6. Likes Twodogs liked this post
  7. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Posts
    27,890
    Post Thanks / Like

    Thumbs up Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by BornInDroopSt'54 View Post
    Cuchulainn, legendary Irish warrior, now a Marvel hero with the wrong spelling of Cuchulain.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cú_Chulainn

    Cool, thanks.

    He was called Setanta originally.
    Have you been reading those Roddy Doyle books again, Dougal!?


    I have, yeah Ted, you big gobshite

  8. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Dogsville
    Posts
    12,738
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by BornInDroopSt'54 View Post
    There was some comment here last year about the state of the Whitten oval's surface. Good to know WOOF is informing the club and the players can catch in the rye.
    The emphasis on forming strong family relationships with a quarter of playing personnel being young and new is critical and it must be a very dynamic place to be this preseason.
    Bailey Smith's achillies is being managed conservatively so we will have to wait to see our Cuchulainn let ļoose.
    I like what you did there
    But then again, I'm an Internet poster and Bevo is a premiership coach so draw your own conclusions.

  9. Thanks BornInDroopSt'54 thanked for this post
  10. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Posts
    1,844
    Post Thanks / Like

    Re: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confident team well placed for 2019

    Quote Originally Posted by BornInDroopSt'54 View Post
    Cuchulainn, legendary Irish warrior, now a Marvel hero with the wrong spelling of Cuchulain.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cú_Chulainn
    Also the hound of Ulster so it's still a dog motif

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •