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Re: High praise for Hunter
That's an interesting thing to say.....
All this because of a disagreement over a calf injury...
Hunter to play Crows, trade speculation 'made up': Beveridge
Lachie Hunter will return to the Western Bulldogs' side for Sunday's match against Adelaide, with coach Luke Beveridge saying the former vice-captain won't be leaving in 2021 despite reports linking him with the Brisbane Lions.
Footy Classified reported earlier this week that the Lions were interested in Hunter, and that the player's relationship with his club was currently strained.
Beveridge said on Friday morning that the report was "a made-up story".
"I don't know where it's come from. It has either come from his management or [Footy Classified] ... I am sure Lachie is not shopping himself around," Beveridge said.
"It's a non-issue, he is contracted ... he is happy, content and he has no desire to leave our footy club.
"Lachie is red, white and blue through and through."
In April Hunter was suspended for four weeks for allegedly breaching the AFL's coronavirus lock down rules. He returned for two games and has then missed the last four due to personal reasons.
Beveridge said Hunter was initially told he would be selected before the last game but he was then withdrawn from the team with a calf problem. However, he did play in a scratch match.
"We had Lachie lined up to play but he had a little bit of an issue with a calf during training," the 2016 premiership coach said.
"As it turned out he felt pretty good post-session so as part of his journey to get back we played him in the scratch match anyway but we didn't want to take that risk after he'd been out for so long into a [senior] game."
Beveridge also confirmed 2016 Norm Smith Medal winner Jason Johannisen (ankle) would miss after a mishap at training.
The coach said his club's current focus was not on making finals, it was simply to improve their consistency over four quarters which has been missing all season.
"We haven't been able to establish that [consistency] yet," he said. "Sunday is another opportunity to go to work on that, concentrate on it.
"The Crows are improving, they have challenged teams in recent times.
"We understand we are playing a team that is desperate for its first victory and if we are off we are vulnerable.
"What we haven't controlled well enough is our output and our energy for the whole game often enough. We will be aware of the background noise that the Crows are creeping up on their first victory.
"We've just got to make sure it doesn't happen."
Hunter to play Crows, trade speculation 'made up': Beveridge
Lachie Hunter will return to the Western Bulldogs' side for Sunday's match against Adelaide, with coach Luke Beveridge saying the former vice-captain won't be leaving in 2021 despite reports linking him with the Brisbane Lions.
Footy Classified reported earlier this week that the Lions were interested in Hunter, and that the player's relationship with his club was currently strained.
Beveridge said on Friday morning that the report was "a made-up story".
"I don't know where it's come from. It has either come from his management or [Footy Classified] ... I am sure Lachie is not shopping himself around," Beveridge said.
"It's a non-issue, he is contracted ... he is happy, content and he has no desire to leave our footy club.
"Lachie is red, white and blue through and through."
In April Hunter was suspended for four weeks for allegedly breaching the AFL's coronavirus lock down rules. He returned for two games and has then missed the last four due to personal reasons.
Beveridge said Hunter was initially told he would be selected before the last game but he was then withdrawn from the team with a calf problem. However, he did play in a scratch match.
"We had Lachie lined up to play but he had a little bit of an issue with a calf during training," the 2016 premiership coach said.
"As it turned out he felt pretty good post-session so as part of his journey to get back we played him in the scratch match anyway but we didn't want to take that risk after he'd been out for so long into a [senior] game."
Beveridge also confirmed 2016 Norm Smith Medal winner Jason Johannisen (ankle) would miss after a mishap at training.
The coach said his club's current focus was not on making finals, it was simply to improve their consistency over four quarters which has been missing all season.
"We haven't been able to establish that [consistency] yet," he said. "Sunday is another opportunity to go to work on that, concentrate on it.
"The Crows are improving, they have challenged teams in recent times.
"We understand we are playing a team that is desperate for its first victory and if we are off we are vulnerable.
"What we haven't controlled well enough is our output and our energy for the whole game often enough. We will be aware of the background noise that the Crows are creeping up on their first victory.
"We've just got to make sure it doesn't happen."
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