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That's pretty salty jealous even for Barrett. I can't believe that bile is sanctioned on AFL media.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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Given those comments, I am prepared to offer a 3 year deal and give Bevo a hug. Mostly out of spite.Time and Tide Waits For No ManComment
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Bevos coaching so well this year. The hard calls made on slower club champions was the correct call.Comment
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The best ever? Key Dog backs Bevo’s big call
Star defender Liam Jones says the resurgent playing group is not afraid to chase Luke Beveridge’s dream of being the best Western Bulldogs team in history after a rousing victory over Carlton on Friday.
Jones returned to the side after a severe pre-season hamstring injury and while contract talks are yet to kick off given he is 34 years of age he is desperate to go on next season.
He lauded Beveridge’s ability to remain steady and compartmentalise his own contract issues given no progress yet on a new deal for the premiership coach.
Beveridge made clear midweek the sky was the limit as he declared: “Our objective again this year is to be the best Bulldogs team that has ever played in any season. That is how lofty our approach is”.
Asked by the Herald Sun if it was a throwaway line or a genuine aspiration after the 2-1 start to the season, Jones said the coach was deadly serious.
“It seems like a theme and there have been so many good Bulldogs teams so we have got a lot to live up to but we are looking forward to getting the Bont (Marcus Bontempelli) and Adam Treloar back and then you see (Sam) Darcy and Joel Freijah is going to be an amazing player, then (Rory) Lobb is coming on in leaps and bounds. We have got really good role players, a strong list, great depth, so there is no reason why we couldn’t.
“(Beveridge) has been great. He’s just controlling what he can control. He has got great belief in what we can do. As a list and even the guys who didn’t play today, we have got real quality in our group and our depth, we are striving to achieve something this year and whatever happens after this year we will think about it at another time.”
The huge pre-season loads that have the younger players fighting fit meant Bontempelli, Jason Johannisen and Jones went down with soft-tissue injuries, with the Dogs full back succumbing at the last possible moment.
At his age it was a terribly timed injury but he quickly found the speed of the game against Carlton despite the quick tempo and sauna-like Marvel Stadium conditions.
“It was a really tough pre-season and probably ten minutes into the last quarter of the intra-club (game) up at Noosa, I just pinged it and I had never done one that bad before.
“It didn’t feel too flash and when I got the results I just tried to stay positive and control what I could, which was recovering and eating well and getting back as well as I could.
“Credit to the physios and fitness staff, I actually felt really good out there fitness wise. I had to get some timing back but I was in good shape.”
Jones is keen to play on and it would be a shock if the Dogs did not offer him a new deal but it will first work on new contracts for Marcus Bontempelli and Ed Richards.
Like out-of-contract pair Adam Treloar and Tom Liberatore, only injury would seem likely to get in the way of new deals for 2026.
“I am hoping my form can improve and I can get back to playing really reliable good footy for the team and see how it goes but (I am) definitely keen to play on,” Jones said.
“I feel like I still have got my athleticism, my speed and strength and jump so as long as I have the passion and the club feels the value in me, it’s a decision that needs to be made.
“It’s really weird (being in my second stint at the Dogs). It almost feels like a different lifetime, like a movie. It’s a different part of my life but seeing all the older blokes around the club like Brad Johnson, it sort of feels like I never left. It’s been a nice story to start my career here and learn off the older guys and then finish off my career here wearing the colours again. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”Comment
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That’s terrific stuff to hear from a senior player.
Time and Tide Waits For No ManComment
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Thoughts on Daniel Pratt as a possible replacement if Bevo goes? Would be an in house move but it's been remarkable what he has done with our back 6 in such a short period of time. Only 42 as well which is a great age to become a senior coach.Comment
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Was thinking about this today and as much as I believe the "neither party is knocking down each others door" response to whether Bevo stays or goes, I feel it is important to get a resolution asap because if we are in fact a chance to get Butters and/or Rowell I am sure both players would want to know who the coach is before making a comittment to our club. For me Bevo has done enough to gain at least another two years and let Bevo and Sam Power go into full beast mode recruiting.Comment
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Bornadog has beat me to it with the Rowell comment. Buyers has been very public about the relationship with Ken and the coach will be the determining factor to landing anyone of note.
I would like to suggest that we make it a KPI for Bevo to land one or both of these guys. He can do Sam Mitchell and meet with them under a “Cloak of Darkness” to get commitment. Then I’m happy fir Bevo to get another 5 years as it would be great ride.
Sorry only point is Sam doesn’t use the cloak of darkness at all ↔️BB.
Looking forward - Naughton, Darcy and JUH. It will be the envy of everyone.Comment
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