Luke Beveridge set to sign two-year contract extension at Western Bulldogs

The Western Bulldogs are on the verge of locking away premiership coach Luke Beveridge in a move which could help secure another signature of one of the best players in the game.

Western Bulldogs are expected to lock away senior coach Luke Beveridge on a two-year deal as early as next week.

Talks on a fresh two-year extension will ramp up next week after senior figures at the club including Beveridge return from a short break for their bye.

While exact terms are yet to be finalised, it is expected the Dogs will lock away the man who led the club to the 2016 premiership until the end of 2027.

The new deal could also include full protection for Beveridge in-line with Melbourne premiership coach Simon Goodwin, whose contract includes a full termination payout for the lifetime of his deal until the end of next year.

Luke Beveridge is on the verge of signing a new deal. Picture: Getty Images

The extension will take Beveridge into a 13th year at the helm of the ‘The Kennel’ and is reward for an excellent 6-5 start to the season despite a lengthy injury list and significant list turnover in recent seasons.

The Dogs lost star goal kickers Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal) and Cody Weightman (knee) to season-long issues and farewelled premiership stars Caleb Daniel and Jack Macrae as well as brilliant ballwinner Bailey Smith in the trade period at season’s end despite criticism.

But the club remains only one game outside the top-four approaching the midpoint of the season and will play five of their next six games at Marvel Stadium.

Beveridge’s men will take on Hawthorn, their rivals from last year’s elimination final in a blockbuster Thursday night match-up next week and then face-off against St Kilda (Marvel), Richmond (Marvel), Sydney (SCG), North Melbourne (Marvel) and Adelaide (Marvel) as part of a big run at the indoor venue.

And the coach’s signature is set to help secure the future of inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli who is also set to turn his attention to a seven-figure contract extension.

Bontempelli, 29, will remain the highest-paid player at the club after tweaking his role to include more time forward this season to help accommodate the emergence of midfield jets Ed Richards, Joel Freijah and Ryley Sanders.

The signature of Marcus Bontempelli could come soon after Luke Beveridge’s deal is announced. Picture: Getty Images

Still one of the best few players in the league, Bontempelli has also played a major role in the club’s revival and rise up the ladder on and off the field in 2025.

The skipper has been lauded for his leadership helping the group keep focus on its on-field aspirations this season amid conjecture about Ugle-Hagan who has taken indefinite leave from the club to focus on his wellbeing.

New deals for the coach and captain, who could both be locked away next month, will be a major coup for the club as its attempt to make a deep run into September this year.

The Dogs will also be boosted by the return of gun key forward Sam Darcy, 21, who is set to make a quicker-than-expected return from a serious knee injury after bagging 14 goals in his first six matches this season.

Beveridge’s men have lost two elimination finals in the three years since their 2021 Grand Final appearance but have, in part, rebuilt the list in that time.

Only 11 players from the 2021 Grand Final team which lost to Melbourne remain on the club’s list.

The Dogs pulled off one of the best moves of last year’s trade period nabbing Matthew Kennedy from Carlton as part of a four-way deal with St Kilda, Geelong and Carlton.

Former Blue Kennedy has averaged 24 disposals and six clearances for his new team this season.

Originally published as Luke Beveridge set to sign two-year contract extension at Western Bulldogs