Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Sam Darcy is not the answer to all their problems

He’s arguably the most special talent in the AFL and made a brilliant return from injury and Sam Darcy could be the difference for the Western Bulldogs in 2025.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge insists his team isn’t living in “fantasy land” regarding the prospect of 21-year-old Sam Darcy automatically turning things around for his team despite a fantastic return from injury on Thursday night.

Beveridge said Darcy should also prepare for a “fair bit of attention” from the opposition and could need a better go from umpires as he emerges as one of the AFL’s most threatening players.

Darcy had 19 disposals (11 contested), nine marks (four), three goals, a goal assist and nine score involvements to be one of the most influential men on the ground during the Dogs’ 72-point shellacking of St Kilda at Marvel Stadium.

The Bulldogs held down the fort reasonably well while Darcy was rehabilitating his injured knee, winning three out of six games, but their 1-6 record against top-eight teams is what is front of Beveridge’s mind as he strives for more consistency from his charges in the second half of the season.

“We’re living in the real world here and not in fantasy land around the fact that we’ve dropped six games against probably the established better teams in the competition at the moment,” Beveridge said.

Sam Darcy starred on his return. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

“And some of those games have been with Sam in the team.

“I mean, he makes a difference, there’s no doubt about it, but our challenge is going to be now to stay on a keel and to gain some momentum in the season week to week and not come off our better work.

“We won’t come out of Marvel Stadium tonight kicking up our heels … ultimately we’re middle of the pack.

“We know Sam will help but we’ve still got to spread the load and that’ll be our mandate week to week now.”

Beveridge suggested that Darcy was unfairly treated by the umpires in his comeback game but he would have to learn to cope with the extra physicality opposition teams would continue to send his way.

“Obviously, they (St Kilda) paid him a fair bit of attention,” Beveridge said.

“It’s something that he’s going to have to deal with from week to week I think.

“As long as he’s just treated like every other key forward, that’s all that matters.

Darcy kicked three goals. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“But he fought through that and I think it’s difficult when you’re in so much physical contact, and he’s obviously long and stay disciplined and no free kicks away and that sort of stuff, especially when you’re not getting any yourself. So he needs to just temper that.”

When pressed further on the way his young superstar was treated, Beveridge declined to elaborate.

Darcy was one of 13 Bulldogs goalkickers on Thursday night, and the coach was rapt with the potency of the forward structure.

“It’s where we need to be and so I’d have to say that it worked reasonably well,” Beveridge said.

“I think we got six goals from forward-half turnovers. It’s a pretty good result. We haven’t been getting that and our forward-50 tackling was a bit better.”

Captain Marcus Bontempelli was shut down effectively by gun St Kilda tagger Marcus Windhager, and it made the Bulldogs’ dominant midfield performance all the more pleasing for Beveridge.

“The mids spread the load through there, they really did,” Beveridge said.

“Marcus (Bontempelli) played a really selfless game tonight, and it meant other teammates capitalised on that.”

Originally published as Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Sam Darcy is not the answer to all their problems