AFL in mourning after death of former St Kilda recruiter John Beveridge, father of Western Bulldogs coach Luke

The AFL community is mourning the death of legendary recruiter John Beveridge, the father of current Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.

John and Luke Beveridge in 1996.

St Kilda and the AFL industry as a whole are mourning the loss of the Saints’ long-time recruiting guru John Beveridge, who died on Thursday night, aged 85, after a long illness.

Beveridge was the father of Western Bulldogs premiership coach Luke, and the son of four-time Collingwood premiership player Jack, but his own role in football was also significant giving his decades served at the Saints as one of the game’s leading recruiters.

He played with the Magpies under 19s and reserves before playing with Sandringham in the VFL and local leagues.

But it was his time as a respected recruiter with the Saints where he made his biggest mark on the game, helping to shape the fortunes of St Kilda by recruiting top end picks including Nick Riewoldt, Brendon Goddard, Justin Koschitzke and Luke Ball, while also unearthing other gems such as Nick Dal Santo (pick 13) and Max Hudghton (pick 15).

“John’s impact on our club has been felt for generations and there is no doubt he stands among the best recruiters Australian rules football has ever seen,“ St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said. ”His ability to see the potential in a draftee as both a footballer and a person was second to none.

“We send our love and condolences to all who had the pleasure of knowing John across the journey, and thank him for all he did for our club and community.”

Beveridge with a lifetime achievement award he received in 2012.

Beveridge spent more than five decades associated with the Saints, having started as a statistician to coach Allan Jeans before moving into junior development in the 1980s, into recruiting in the 1990s and serving through until his role as full-time recruiting manager ended in 2007. He continued to work part-time for the club for years after he stepped down.

He took great pride in his son Luke’s playing career with Melbourne, Footscray and St Kilda before he took on coaching the Bulldogs a decade ago.

“We send our love and condolences to all who had the pleasure of knowing John across the journey, and thank him for all he did for our club and community.”

St Kilda Football Club wishes to acknowledge the passing of decorated former recruiter and Life Member, John Beveridge. pic.twitter.com/Is4Z9GfyCM

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) October 24, 2024

Vale John Beveridge. 💙

The Club sends its condolences to Luke and the entire Beveridge family following the loss of his father John.

John was a revered recruiter for St Kilda with his career in football spanning over five decades. pic.twitter.com/GdRNWG79Eb

— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) October 25, 2024

As St Kilda’s historian Russell Holmesby told the club’s website: “He (John Beveridge) embodied the ideals of selflessness, co-operation and care that we trust are the principles of all young players in their football careers, and on which our game is built.”

The Western Bulldogs also sent out its condolences on Friday to Luke and the Beveridge family over the loss.