Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge named 2016 AFL Coach of the Year

LUKE Beveridge has become the darling of the AFL coaching fraternity after winning his second Coach of the Year award in two seasons at the helm.

Luke Beveridge named AFL Coach of the Year. Picture: Michael Klein

LUKE Beveridge has become the darling of the AFL coaching fraternity after winning his second Coach of the Year award in two seasons at the helm.

Beveridge’s steady hand at the tiller as the Western Bulldogs overcame untold adversity to roar into a Grand Final saw the league’s 187 coaches label him this year’s top coach.

This year’s Coaches Association voting took place after the preliminary finals, the overhaul necessary given triple premiership coach Alastair Clarkson had never won the award.

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Yet Beveridge still came out on top after becoming the first coach to lead his side into a Grand Final from seventh position on the ladder.

He lost his captain Bob Murphy in Round 3, had to endure repeated long-term injuries and then inspired his side to finals wins over West Coast, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney.

Luke Beveridge has been named the AFL Coach of the Year. Picture: Getty Images

The 46-year-old beat home Sydney Swans coach John Longmire and GWS coach Leon Cameron after one of the most impressive starts to a coaching debut in recent memory.

Former Dogs coach Terry Wallace told the Herald Sun Beveridge had an incredible connection with his players.

“Luke has emotionally invested in his players and built an emotional attachment with them and his players are thriving on that,’’ he said.

“There is a love for each other and that is a really strong bond between player and coach.

“That is pretty rare. Usually we use words like respect and integrity when talking about players and coaches.

“But I am using the word love. I think there is genuinely a love between him and the playing group.

“He has tapped into something very special and who knows where that can take you?”

Luke Beveridge and the Bulldogs will play in the Grand Final this week. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Beveridge accepted the award named in honour of coaching legend Alan Jeans at a Docklands ceremony.

Three-time premiership coach Mick Malthouse was inducted as an official coaching legend after last year breaking the AFL/VFL coaching games record.

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Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams was also presented with a lifetime achievement award after moving on from Richmond this year.

Sydney senior assistant Stuart Dew, who has committed to the Swans next year rather than push his senior aspirations, was named the assistant coach of the year.

Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield had last week been named the Coaches Association’s Champion Player, with Sydney’s Isaac Heeney voted the best young player of the year.