Bevo's contract

[MrMahatma]

I'd offer 3 so that the circus around re-signing isn't back as early as next season.

[Axe Man]

Luke Beveridge set to sign two-year contract extension at Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are on the verge of locking away premiership coach Luke Beveridge in a move which could help secure another signature of one of the best players in the game.

Western Bulldogs are expected to lock away senior coach Luke Beveridge on a two-year deal as early as next week.

Talks on a fresh two-year extension will ramp up next week after senior figures at the club including Beveridge return from a short break for their bye.

While exact terms are yet to be finalised, it is expected the Dogs will lock away the man who led the club to the 2016 premiership until the end of 2027.

The new deal could also include full protection for Beveridge in-line with Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin, whose contract includes a full termination payout for the lifetime of his deal until the end of next year.

The extension will take Beveridge into a 13th year at the helm of the ‘The Kennel’ and is reward for an excellent 6-5 start to the season despite a lengthy injury list and significant list turnover in recent seasons.

The Dogs lost star goal kickers Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) and Cody Weightman (knee) to season-long issues and farewelled premiership stars Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae as well as brilliant ballwinner Bailey Smith in the trade period at season’s end despite criticism.

But the club remains only one game outside the top-four approaching the midpoint of the season and will play five of their next six games at Marvel Stadium.

Beveridge’s men will take on Hawthorn, their rivals from last year’s elimination final in a blockbuster Thursday night match-up next week and then face-off against St Kilda (Marvel), Richmond (Marvel), Sydney (SCG), North Melbourne (Marvel) and Adelaide (Marvel) as part of a big run at the indoor venue.

And the coach’s signature is set to help secure the future of inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli who is also set to turn his attention to a seven-figure contract extension.

Bontempelli, 29, will remain the highest-paid player at the club after tweaking his role to include more time forward this season to help accommodate the emergence of midfield jets Ed Richards, Joel Freijah and Ryley Sanders.

Still one of the best few players in the league, Bontempelli has also played a major role in the club’s revival and rise up the ladder on and off the field in 2025.

The skipper has been lauded for his leadership helping the group keep focus on its on-field aspirations this season amid conjecture about Ugle-Hagan who has taken indefinite leave from the club to focus on his wellbeing.

New deals for the coach and captain, who could both be locked away next month, will be a major coup for the club as its attempt to make a deep run into September this year.

The Dogs will also be boosted by the return of gun key forward Sam Darcy, 21, who is set to make a quicker-than-expected return from a serious knee injury after bagging 14 goals in his first six matches this season.

Beveridge’s men have lost two elimination finals in the three years since their 2021 Grand Final appearance but have, in part, rebuilt the list in that time.

Only 11 players from the 2021 Grand Final team which lost to Melbourne remain on the club’s list.

The Dogs pulled off one of the best moves of last year’s trade period nabbing Matthew Kennedy from Carlton as part of a four-way deal with St Kilda, Geelong and Carlton.

Former Blue Kennedy has averaged 24 disposals and six clearances for his new team this season.

[Grantysghost]

Somehow Matt Kennedy gets a mention.

[Bornadog]

Somehow Matt Kennedy gets a mention.

It was actually briliant work by Sam to get Kennedy and Hynes for Smith and saying goodbye to Macrae

[jeemak]

The most interesting thing here will be whether Beveridge signing is a catalyst for Bontempelli signing or a deterrent......or has no impact at all.

Jungle drums have been beating about the latter's wanting to leave for at least six months. Let's see how it pans out as it's getting late in the day for him to sign even if he doesn't usually go early.

[hujsh]

The most interesting thing here will be whether Beveridge signing is a catalyst for Bontempelli signing or a deterrent......or has no impact at all.

Jungle drums have been beating about the latter's wanting to leave for at least six months. Let's see how it pans out as it's getting late in the day for him to sign even if he doesn't usually go early.

Bont? Bont has been wanting to leave? Or did you mean former/Bevo?

[jeemak]

Bont? Bont has been wanting to leave? Or did you mean former/Bevo?

Look, scuttlebutt amongst some family members and others, plus David King's BS on Fox early doors 2025 has had Bont leaving this contract cycle.

It's been out there, probably as much as you want to look for it.

[ReLoad]

There is no such thing as a player thats bigger than a club, but gee whiz this is close! - there is no way this happens, Bont playing for another club? wouldnt think so......

[hujsh]

Look, scuttlebutt amongst some family members and others, plus David King's BS on Fox early doors 2025 has had Bont leaving this contract cycle.

It's been out there, probably as much as you want to look for it.

I literally only read WOOF and sometimes the AFL site while looking for stats or the fixture. If no one said it here, I aint seeing it.

[ledge]

Look, scuttlebutt amongst some family members and others, plus David King's BS on Fox early doors 2025 has had Bont leaving this contract cycle.

It's been out there, probably as much as you want to look for it.

David king , the media just make up stuff now as they are competing against so many other shows .
if it was true it would be all over other media and socials as well .
One of the biggest names in the AFL leaving and you have to look for it ?

[The bulldog tragician]

Look, scuttlebutt amongst some family members and others, plus David King's BS on Fox early doors 2025 has had Bont leaving this contract cycle.

It's been out there, probably as much as you want to look for it.

Dear god no. We have had a lot of heartbreak over the years, but I don’t think I could get over this. Please sign Bont.

[mjp]

Bevo has been our best ever coach and has had us 'looking' good for the best part of 12-months.

I am sick of losing close games though and whilst I totally get the "better the devil you know' nature of things, I'm not going to be excited about a new contract unless this issue can be resolved. We all talk about top 4 and finals and we all have excuses when games like the recent losses to Geelong, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Fremantle and Collingwood are interrupted by an occasional win.

I get it - I should count the Carlton game...but one win vs 5 losses doesn't pass the smell test for me...I could also mention the other 5 teams are all in the top 8 (well, 9) sides on the ladder...and the side we beat in a close game? Well...they aren't.

I've never been a 'sack the coach' type person and I'm sure this post will surprise a few people but something is clearly wrong right now. Good sides win close games - at least some of them. When the pressure is on, the best teams - those with the BEST HABITS - execute and win. We simply cannot do it.

Is this Bevo's fault? I actually have no idea - but it's happening so often that some serious questions need to be asked and I'm really unsure how putting pen to paper right now is an answer to those questions.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Look, scuttlebutt amongst some family members and others, plus David King's BS on Fox early doors 2025 has had Bont leaving this contract cycle.

It's been out there, probably as much as you want to look for it.

Look if the club knows its Bevo or Bont then I'm sorry, there's no way Bevo is getting re-signed. So it's either no impact or helps him re-sign.

I would hope no impact. If Bont was thinking of leaving then it's a huge concern either way. I don't know why the delay. Maybe it's to wait for structuring other deals or bringing in players like Butters.

[Funke disco]

The most interesting thing here will be whether Beveridge signing is a catalyst for Bontempelli signing or a deterrent......or has no impact at all.

Jungle drums have been beating about the latter's wanting to leave for at least six months. Let's see how it pans out as it's getting late in the day for him to sign even if he doesn't usually go early.

That's the first I've heard of anything like this. My understanding from media reports is that Bont loves Bevo and has been amongst his biggest backers when the heat has been applied. All David King did was hypothesise what Bont would be worth, not that he is actually leaving or is entertaining it

[my plums]

Close the doors if Bont leaves