AFL 2021: Luke Beveridge hits back after Scott West’s criticism of son Rhylee being dropped

Luke Beveridge has asked Bulldogs legend Scott West not to air his grievances in public after a damning Facebook post about the coach’s management of his son.

Rhylee West was dropped after the Bulldogs’ loss to Richmond. Picture: Michael Klein

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has urged former teammate Scott West to keep his criticism of the club’s selection policies private for the benefit of his son’s welfare.

The Bulldogs have this week rallied around young midfielder Rhylee West after his father, who won seven best and fairests at the kennels, hit out at Beveridge on Facebook for making his Rhylee the medical substitute on Sunday against Carlton.

West said the move was “absolutely disgraceful management” of his son.

Beveridge this week spoke to Scott West and asked him to pick up the phone next time he had any concerns about his son’s game time.

Beveridge said the Dogs have made a big effort this week to support Rhylee, 20, to address any embarrassment or disappointment he may have experienced as a result of father’s social media spray.

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“Rhylee and I have come together and our relationship is extremely strong. In a sense, I feel like a little bit of a father figure to Rhylee at times,” Beveridge said.

“It is just reassuring him that everything is going to be OK.

“Probably the sensitivity around something like that made public everyone is really wary and cautious and definitely emotional towards Rhylee to make sure everything has been OK.

“Likewise, people have been extending that empathetic voice towards me as well, because it is something that should be private (that) went public.

“That happens from time to time and it is an emotional game for Rhylee’s sake I hope that we just move on because he is just scratching the surface in his career and there will be some disappointment throughout his career.

Luke Beveridge speaking to Rhylee West during his AFL debut. Picture: Michael Klein

“A lot of the boys have been through it and when you are fielding strong sides from week-to-week and unfortunately and occasionally some of the lads are missing out.”

Beveridge said he had been “really close mates” with Scott West, but conceded it was “not wise” to elaborate on the situation further.

West has since deleted the Facebook post.

The Dogs have attracted criticism for making some strong and at times surprise selection decisions, which currently include leaving vice-captain Mitch Wallis in the VFL.

But Beveridge made no apologies for the selection policies, saying they have been a strength at the kennel in his time as the Dogs compete for a second premiership in six years.

“We collaborate and I think make really insightful and good decisions selection-wise and it is always with a view to win the game,” he said.

“Sometimes you are squeezing all the talent out of your group that you can in different ways and I think it has helped us be in really good stead.

Scott West questioned why his son Rhylee had been dropped.

“It has helped us make two finals series when we looked down and out and maybe where teams and clubs have stagnated and missed out and it has been difficult (for them, whereas) we have been able to come again just by making alterations.

“The track record for the match committee here at the club has been really strong.”

While West also queried Johannisen’s selection last week after just five possessions against Richmond, Beveridge said there was a lot more to his new role in attack.

He said Johannisen and Wallis brought vastly different skill sets to the game.

“The role that Jase is playing at the moment he doesn’t have to touch the ball more than once or twice to have an effect on the game,” he said.

“The pressure he puts on and some of the off-ball run last week and speed was just sensational and it really helped us.

“He will get his lick of the ice cream scoreboard-wise at some point. He is kicking his one (goal) here and there, but that is not what we are measuring him on.

“Mitch is playing some twos, as you know, and he is working his way through that and trying to get back in the senior team, but I cannot tell you when that will be.”

DOGS LEGEND LASHES OUT AT BEVERIDGE

Western Bulldogs legend Scott West has attacked coach Luke Beveridge for the “disgraceful management” of his son, Rhylee, who was dropped for last week’s game against Carlton.

The seven-time Bulldogs best-and-fairest winner and 324-game champion took to Facebook to express his frustration after Rhylee and Josh Schache were both axed after just one AFL appearance.

“Well done Beveridge (three clapping emojis),” West, a former VFL coach at Werribee, wrote.

“That’s how you manage young players. Yep he is my son but seriously you make him wait for 5 weeks, all of excellent form and stats in the VFL. You play him against the best team of the last 5 years (Richmond) and yep, didn’t play well, BUT, then you drop him.

“Absolutely disgraceful management!!! It’s not personal against JJ (Jason Johannisen), BUT, 3 possessions???

Scott West was not pleased his son was dropped by the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

“Are you serious????

“Let me add Schache to this argument, poor kid gets kicked in the guts by everyone, apparently it is his and Rhylee’s fault they lost last week.”

Johannisen and West both recorded five disposals against the Tigers.

West kicked 0.2 and registered one SuperCoach point in Round 8. Champion Data had him as the lowest-ranked player on the ground.

Beveridge said last week that he was encouraged by Schache’s one-goal final quarter against Richmond.

However Schache was axed despite injuries to Bulldogs ruckmen Stefan Martin (Achilles soreness) and Tim English (concussion).

West was named an emergency, along with Lewis Young, Louis Butler and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan. Schache did not make the 26-man squad.

West’s VFL form had been first-class.

The son of a gun had 22 disposals and a goal in Round 1 and then exploded with 29 disposals, three goals and 159 SuperCoach points against Greater Western Sydney in Round 2.

West played his 10th AFL game against Richmond in what was his first sighting since Round 12 last year, although it was technically his second for 2021 after he was the unused medical substitute in Round 1.

Originally published as AFL 2021: Luke Beveridge hits back after Scott West’s criticism of son Rhylee being dropped