Matthew Egan appointed to new role at Western Bulldogs as review findings announced

A six-week review has prompted big changes at the Western Bulldogs, with a new role introduced to oversee the club’s football department.

PERTH. 14/09/2021. Western Bulldogs training at Mineral Resources Park, Perth. Chris Grant during todays training session. Photo by Michael Klein

The Western Bulldogs have formalised an internal six-week review, and as a result have promoted Matthew Egan to a newly formed general manager of football operations role.

The former Cats great has only been at the Kennel since October 2023 and was initially brought across from Geelong as an assistant coach to Luke Beveridge.

However, the board has opted to change the structure of its coaching panel in an attempt to find more consistent performances on the field as pressure on Beveridge’s future continues to mount.

Sam Power, Brendon Lade and Chris Grant. Picture: Michael Klein

Beveridge is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Bulldogs, having coached the club to a premiership in his second year in charge in 2016.

However, the club has struggled to maintain sustained success, with 2021 its only other significant finals run under Beveridge despite consistently possessing one of the league’s strongest lists.

The bulldogs finished ninth last season, were knocked out in week one of 2019, 2020 and 2022’s finals campaign, and didn’t make finals in 2017 or 2018 under Beveridge.

Western Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler said in a statement the change was done to “implement a clearer demarcation of reporting lines, roles and responsibilities to ensure individuals are better placed to focus on their specific areas, particularly within the coaching structure”.

Matthew Egan during his time with Essendon. Picture: AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy

Egan will report to Chris Grant, who is the executive director of football at the club, however Watson-Wheeler said he would be “assuming a more elevated focus on executive leadership, strategy and innovation, with high-level management and oversight of both our men’s and women’s programs.”

Beveridge signed a two-year extension to remain at the Bulldogs until the end of 2025, with the club putting faith in the premiership coach reaching the heights of 2016 once again.