In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge commits to the club for two more years.
- AFL clears Carlton’s management of Adam Cerra’s injuries.
- Essendon lock away promising defender.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has acknowledged he needs to manage his emotions better after signing a two-year contract extension with the club.
The Dogs put an end to one of the season’s more intriguing sub-plots on Tuesday by announcing the deal, which ensures the club’s only living premiership coach will enter a 13th campaign at Whitten Oval next year.
Luke Beveridge will stay in charge of the Western bulldogs for two more seasons.Credit: Getty Images
Described as a “once-in-a-generation coach” by club president Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Beveridge was rewarded for getting the Bulldogs into last year’s finals and their bright start to this season despite a lengthy, star-studded injury list.
One of the most forthright figures in the league, Beveridge said there were times in his coaching career where his “emotional fragility” had come to the fore, but he had learned his lessons.
Though Beveridge did not refer to any specific incidents, he has been involved in some highly publicised blues with media identities, including former Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes last month and reporter Tom Morris in 2022, before he joined Nine.
“To continue to represent the football club as a leader, definitely as an ambassador, I’ve learned some lessons on the way when I’ve been a bit emotional, and they’ve been interesting stitches in time, and times when maybe my emotional fragility has come out in different points,” Beveridge said in an interview with the club’s website.
“I always look back on those times, it was coming from a good place, a place of protection and care for our people. I’ve learned from it.
“I won’t say I don’t regret a couple of moments, but, by and large, representing our club and understanding what I say, what I do, the decisions that I make, affect so many. There’s a resolve that I need to have to manage that.
“I’ve never been more enthusiastic and excited about what I can do from here on end.”
Beveridge said his future would again be clouded should the Bulldogs under-perform between now and the end of 2027 when his fresh contract expires.
He had been under the pump entering this season after the Dogs failed to make September in 2023 and bowing out in the elimination final last year, their fifth first-week finals exit under hi coaching.
“I’m well aware if there’s a period of time where there’s doubt in regards to the stability, sustainability and the opportunity to succeed then I probably won’t be here,” Beveridge said.
“There’s been times in the past that’s been under question.”
Beveridge has challenged the Bulldogs, out of the eight by a win but with a game in hand on seventh-placed Greater Western Sydney, to climb into the top echelon of teams.
The Dogs have won one of seven games against teams currently in the top eight but are undefeated in matches against teams below them on the ladder.
“In our wins, it’s probably been against opposition who aren’t necessarily right up the top of the ladder,” Beveridge said. “This is the challenge now to make the leap to be a team, the team, that is right up the top and can beat these better teams but then hold sway against everyone else. That’s a difficult thing in a long season. We’re not satisfied.”
AFL clears Blues’ medical treatment of Cerra
Carlton’s treatment of Adam Cerra after he was the victim of a careless high bump from Essendon’s Sam Durham has been cleared by the AFL’s chief medical officer.
While some commentators thought the two-match ban Durham received from the match review officer for the bump was light, former Melbourne captain Garry Lyon said the treatment of Cerra’s injuries needed greater scrutiny.
Sam Durham’s bump on Adam Cerra.Credit: Seven Footy
The midfielder stayed on the field for more than 10 minutes after being felled by Durham and awarded a free kick. He eventually left the field for a head-injury assessment, but the Blues clarified at half-time that they performed an on-ground assessment immediately that cleared him to continue playing.
The AFL said on Tuesday its chief medical officer Dr Michael Makdissi had discussed the matter with Carlton’s doctors, who determined in their onfield assessment that Cerra was “not exhibiting signs of concussion and did not need to be removed from the field of play”.
The league said video review of the collision between Durham and Cerra led to Carlton removing Cerra from the field, and when subsequent examinations cleared him of concussion, he was allowed to play out the match.
“As per usual practice following any head knock, Cerra will be subject to monitoring this week,” the AFL said.
“The AFL including Dr Makdissi are content that Carlton’s doctors managed Cerra following the incident consistent with the requirements of … concussion guidelines.
“The AFL encourages conservative medical management of head knocks and will, as always, continue to review and (where appropriate) revise our concussion guidelines to reflect advances in research and to optimise management to protect the health and safety of our players.
“We did that this season by the introduction of the HIA removal process which has been utilised several times already.”
Bombers secure Reid’s signature
Essendon have locked away promising but injury-plagued key defender Zach Reid until the end of 2028.
Despite limited exposure at the top level, Zach Reid is considered one of the league’s best young key defenders.Credit: Getty Images
The 23-year-old has played just 19 games since being taken at No.10 in the 2020 national draft, and now has additional three years on his contract to make his mark on the AFL.
A month ago, Reid spoke candidly to this masthead about the rocky start to his AFL career, which has seen him sustain two lower back stress fractures, three left hamstring injuries, a ruptured pectoral muscle, glandular fever, and bone stress in his right foot.
But the athletic tall was impressive in a run of 10 consecutive games to start this season before hurting his hamstring again.
The Bombers expecting him to miss two more games with that injury before making himself available for selection after their bye in round 16.
“I’m incredibly grateful the club stood by me, and I’m so happy I could repay their trust,” Reid said in announcing his contract through his club.
“I really believe in where this club is headed, and I’m genuinely excited about what this group can achieve together. I love working with this playing group, coaches and all staff; we’ve got so much potential, and I’m keen to see us truly reach it.”
- Greg Dundas
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