Bevo's contract

[jazzadogs]

we got embarrassed by an inexperienced Hawthorn in the finals

No doubt. But there were times in the second half of the season where we were "on track with the heavy hitters".

[soupman]

Our top 10 most important/best players might be:
Bont
Treloar
Richards
JUH
Naughton
Darcy
Weightman
Dale
Jones
Lobb

Getting no leeway despite having 4 of them out for weeks and 2 of them under an injury cloud leading into round 1 is insane.

Is he above criticism, no, but if he can still get us to remain competitive and win a game or two of our first 4 with that that would be a huge achievement, even if it does result in us "underperforming".

[Axe Man]

Without a finals win since 2021, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge knows he’s under pressure

Going into the season in the final year of a contract and with a star-studded injury list has put a premiership-winning coach in the gun.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has conceded that “stepping off without getting sacked” is rare for AFL coaches as he enters the final season of his contract with a lengthy injury list but energised to regenerate the team.

The 2016 premiership winner has no commitment from the club to continue his tenure beyond 2025 having failed to win a final since going down to Melbourne in the 2021 AFL decider.

Pre-season injuries to captain Marcus Bontempelli, who has a “complex” calf issue and could miss the opening six games, as well as Jason Johannisen, Cody Weightman, Adam Treloar, Liam Jones, Ed Richards, Bailey Dale and the prolonged absence of star forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan due to personal reasons have put the Dogs in the gun ahead of a round 1 clash with North Melbourne.

It’s a long way from his premiership-winning days and Beveridge conceded the entire club was a different place, but the 54-year-old remained inspired to meet the demands of an “agitated” fan base.

“It’s 10 years now for me, we’ve only got four players left who started with me, and the core staff who are still around, they’re not coaches; our whole coaching roster has just evolved and changed over time, and all the guys who have come and gone have really contributed and influenced the club,” he said.

“And that’s part of the challenge, to be a good manager and bring people together and create a really powerful harmonised environment, which I love as a challenge.

“I’ve still got a real passion for it, I’ve got energy for it, but I understand that the club needs to be strong too around senior coaches and stable, and that’s not easy when you’ve got the media and your supporter base agitated at times.

“I think up until now, our club’s been relatively strong and really supportive, but I live in the real world, and that will run out at some point – or it may not; stepping off without getting sacked is a rarity.”

The Bulldogs rebuild began with the departures of a slew of premiership winners at the end of 2024, including All-Australians Caleb Daniel, who was traded to North Melbourne, and Jack Macrae to St Kilda.

Beveridge suggested a change in the “athletic profile” of his team, as the duo became irregular team members, was key to the Bulldogs winning 11 of their last 15 games of the season before losing an elimination final to Hawthorn,

“We went through the early parts of last year and won three out of the first eight,” he told the Dyl and Friends podcast.

“To push the envelope in how we could test the competition we started to strip back time on the ground of players who didn’t necessarily cover it as well as others.

“We started to get a different blend and probably the athletic profile of our team, we maximised.”

The Bulldogs defeated the Hawks in their Community Series clash last weekend despite the injured stars’ absence.

[Bornadog]

Bevo will know when his time is up

[Grantysghost]

I've fallen back in love with Luke.

He can stay as long as he wants

[Axe Man]

Unless he drops McNeil?

[WBFC4FFC]

Bevo will know when his time is up

Agree.

I still think he should have been signed before the season starts. No one else is out there that can be an upgrade in my opinion. Change for change sake does not work.

If Bevo still has the fire, then keep him. Plenty of other clubs would be all over him.

This may be linked to Bont having yet to sign-on yet but he did this in 2021 as well.

[TysonC]

Agree.

I still think he should have been signed before the season starts. No one else is out there that can be an upgrade in my opinion. Change for change sake does not work.

If Bevo still has the fire, then keep him. Plenty of other clubs would be all over him.

This may be linked to Bont having yet to sign-on yet but he did this in 2021 as well.

Genuine PTSD with Brown and Wallace leaving the kennel all those years ago. How I see it is, we don't need to look far to see the effect of a coach leaving a club with Port's pending exodus, we underplay the role Bevo has played on all these players because of who's left, but look at who's committed to the club over a long period of time. English and Naughton were chased heavily by their home states and other clubs but turned it down to stay, Bont has never considered leaving by the looks (might if Bevo is gone) and then we can point to how players such as Treloar and Jones wanted to come to the dogs and play under Bevo, reports say that Rowell was impressed and I wouldn't be shocked if Butters is the same.

[Bornadog]

‘Fine with it’: Beveridge unfazed about uncertainty over coaching future


Luke Beveridge is out of contract at season's end but the Western Bulldogs coach says he is OK with that uncertainty

By AAP

Marcus Bontempelli, Luke Beveridge and Tom Liberatore during the Western Bulldogs official team photo day at Whitten Oval on February 20, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

THE ONLY AFL coach without a contract after this season, Luke Beveridge insists he's "comfortable" with the uncertainty surrounding his 11th season at the Western Bulldogs.

And the 2016 premiership coach has no intention of finishing up.

The Bulldogs, who suffered a meek elimination final exit to Hawthorn last year, head into 2025 out to prove a point but have been ravaged by pre-season injuries.

But Beveridge is taking that, and his future, in his stride ahead of Saturday's season-opener against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.

"I'm fine with it. Really comfortable with it," Beveridge said.

"I've mentioned previously that each season for me is just a brand new project ... the ongoing monitoring and what you do within that project is always there.

"But I feel like we've got to the start of the season, we're in good order.

"Yeah, we've had a few injuries, but this team that runs out tomorrow at Marvel is a strong team and like every other of the 17 clubs we want to get off to a good start.

"But nothing for me in what transpires over the ensuing weeks is a leverage point for my future.

"There's uncertainty, and I'm OK with that. And I suppose, as any practitioner, you're always thinking to yourself 'what is next for me?'

"I love what I do. I've got no intention to finish it up. But what is the next challenge? And the next challenge might be 2026 senior coach of the Western Bulldogs.

"But that might happen down the track. We'll see what happens."
Luke Beveridge addresses his players during the Western Bulldogs' clash against Collingwood in round 12, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos


Beveridge noted analysis of senior coaches' tenures had heated up in recent years, but he was unfazed.

"It's probably more difficult for the newer coaches to not be emotional about it," he said.

"But when you've been in it for a while, just get used to it and apathy kicks in a little bit, and just the belief in yourself and your people and your group is what you harness."

Beveridge will take on the start of the season without skipper Marcus Bontempelli (calf), Adam Treloar (calf), Cody Weightman (knee), Liam Jones (hamstring) and Jason Johannisen (hamstring).

He confirmed Bontempelli will have a game day role in the coaches' box during his time on the sidelines.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

You know I think I club (Sam) would have sat him down over the last couple of weeks. Sam would have said, bevo it’s bad luck that we’ve lost a few of the Boys but what are your expectations for the first 6 rounds. Bevo replies (this, this, this and these KPI’s)

Sam - I agree with 3 of these but let’s agree we also need to accomplish XXX

they shake hands and leave having a few jokes.

let’s just see how the first 6 to 8 weeks play out. I’m confident that coaching for his future under a new leadership team that Bevo will be all in. He will inspire the underman side to rise to greatness. We’ve seen it before and I actually think this is when he coaches his best.

PS. If you are looking for a new coach it’s best to do it when you’re the only club in the market. I would hate to be looking to get someone that attending multiple interviews. I want them all in

[The Bulldogs Bite]

If he is still willing, at this stage I am in favour of him continuing, which isn't the position I've had in recent times. He's been able to reinvent both himself and us multiple times, often from the depths of despair.

No need to re-sign him this minute but unless things go absolutely pear shaped, it would seem preferable. The risk we take is the longer we delay, the more likely another club comes knocking.

He clearly enjoys a challenge so it wouldn't surprise me if a Tasmania type role became appealing to him.

[kruder]

Just watching his interviews recently I have a feeling Bevo will walk away at the end of the year similar to Hardwick and Longmire.

[azabob]

Just watching his interviews recently I have a feeling Bevo will walk away at the end of the year similar to Hardwick and Longmire.

Sadly I agree with you. Even little things such as getting Lade to address the members after the North Melbourne game.

[SquirrelGrip]

Just watching his interviews recently I have a feeling Bevo will walk away at the end of the year similar to Hardwick and Longmire.

I actually get the feeling he'd like to walk away whilst we are on top. If we won it this year, I actually think he's more likely to finish up than if we had a year of injuries and unable to achieve our goals.

[Bornadog]

Just watching his interviews recently I have a feeling Bevo will walk away at the end of the year similar to Hardwick and Longmire.

Not sure what he will do, but I think he and the club are being mature about it and we won't have any blood shed like coaches in the past

[Bornadog]

In case anyone missed

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