‘Not intelligent’: Bulldogs coach potted for speech

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge couldn’t help himself from throwing shade in his post-season speech — and it hasn’t gone down well.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has been potted over a subtle complaint directed at the AFL in the speech he delivered at the Bulldogs’ best and fairest awards.

One video of the veteran coach throwing shade at AFL House has been viewed more than 90,000 times on X, formerly known as Twitter, with fans largely divided over the somewhat bitter swipe.

Beveridge told the Bulldogs faithful at the club’s Charles Sutton Medal night there were “inequities” in the competition.

The comment has attracted particular attention after St Kilda president Andrew Bassat raised eyebrows in his club best and fairest speech when he said the AFL “system” is not a level playing field for his team.

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Beveridge also couldn’t help himself.

“After our reviews and learnings, we go about our preparations,” he said on Wednesday night.

“Our shared message is that we’re all obliged to prepare physically and mentally in order to confront the ever increasing challenges the evenness of the competition throws at all of us.

Luke Beveridge addresses the Bulldogs Best and Fairest crowd. Photo: Twitter, @w3ightman.

“And to make light work of the inequities that exist in the competition and not complain about them. We never do.”

The subtle suggestion there are “inequities” didn’t go unnoticed.

Adelaide Crows legend Graham Cornes responded to the video on X, pointing out the contradiction.

“We never do”. Sounds like you just did. Still a big fan though

— Graham Cornes (@Cornesy12) October 3, 2024

“Shade on so many levels directed in so many directions,” one fan commented.

One fan wrote: “Didn’t he just complain?”

Another posted: “By mentioning it at all he is drawing attention to it lol”.

Other fans tried to suggest the Bulldogs have recently benefited from the recruitment system that allowed the club to snatch up star forward Sam Darcy with the No. 2 pick in the 2022 National Draft under the father/son rule.

The club also got to jump up the draft order to take Jamarra Ugle-Hagan with the No. 1 pick in 2020 because the star forward was a product of the club’s Next Generational Academy.

One fan highlighted this when responding to Beveridge’s comment, writing: “No s***, because you’re one of the few clubs that have benefited from it”.

Another wrote: “When I first saw this I thought it must have been AI generated.

“Then I thought about it. Artificial Intelligence. Nup. Complaining about the inequities which have been probably more beneficial to you than almost any other club while saying you never complain is not intelligent.”

Bassat was also widely criticised for airing his grievances with the league in public.

He said he wanted to share why the father-son and academy picks should “galvanise” the club.

“The system; it’s not a level playing field as we all know,” he said.

“The more I look at it, the system is designed to favour the wealthier clubs and designed to favour the northern clubs. Our role, is meant to be to make up the numbers, and not complain about it.

“In terms of what we’re doing about it, it’s fair to say that our club is sick and tired of meekly accepting its rubbish.

“We’re absolutely committed as a club to fight relentlessly, to ensure that we’re given a fairer opportunity for success.”

Andrew Bassat teed off at the AFL's father-son rule.

The 58-year-old then stated that he and the Saints had made inroads into what they believe are necessary changes that must be made competition-wide – referring to the access that clubs have to father-son prospects, and how much they cough up in the form of draft capital to acquire a player of such a nature.

Levi Ashcroft – the brother of 2024 Norm Smith Medallist Will and son of three-time Brisbane premiership player Marcus – is widely tipped as the best player in this year’s draft pool; but that won’t stop the Lions from acquiring him, regardless of how early in the draft that another team bids for him.

Currently with pick 18 as their first selection in the draft, Bassat was fuming that the Lions will still have access to Ashcroft at what he believes is an unreasonably low price to pay – and made it known.

“We’ve actually made some progress this year; we led the charge to ensure that a fairer price is paid for father-son and academy (picks),” Bassat revealed, before detailing sarcastic dialogue with commissioners at last Saturday’s grand final.

“Unfortunately, the AFL in its wisdom chose to make the changes next year; so, I had a great time after half time (at the Grand Final) when it was pretty clear Brisbane was going to win.

“Every single commissioner I found (there)… the conversation went to the effect of (Bassat): ‘I’ve got a great idea – how about you give the best player in the draft to Brisbane this year!’

“And they would start walking away (and I’d say): ‘Oh, don’t charge them for it’.

“The system’s an absolute nonsense; it’s complete and utter nonsense. We’ll fight the battle, certainly until my last day as president – and hopefully beyond.

Originally published as ‘Not intelligent’: Bulldogs coach potted for speech