Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge warns AFL to stop making up rules on run
The Western Bulldogs face a critical test in their push to make the eight when they clash with Geelong on the Gold Coast on Friday night.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has pleaded with the AFL to stop making up rules “on the run” after two controversial decisions at the tribunal this week.
Beveridge, who is preparing his club for a crucial clash against Geelong on the Gold Coast on Friday night, delivered a stinging critique after a perceived change in direction at the tribunal.
He described the inconsistent interpretation and sanctioning of sling tackles in 2020 as a “dog’s breakfast”.
Geelong’s Luke Dahlhaus and Port Adelaide’s Sam Powell-Pepper had one-match suspensions for dangerous tackles overturned at the tribunal on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs lost defender Hayden Crozier for a week earlier this season when an appeal for a one-match ban on a tackle applied to Kangaroo Jack Mahony was dismissed.
Crozier’s presence most likely would not have changed the result a week later when the Bulldogs were thumped by Carlton, but his absence certainly did not help.
“There is a lot of confusion. It is not just the free kick aspect. Now it is sanctions and the penalties,” Beveridge said.
“We have got some internal discussion on that at the moment. We appealed Hayden’s one. It was not long after Shaun Burgoyne’s incident and Croz’s suspension stood. Obviously that cost the club $5000. I think they halved the $10,000 appeal cost.
“But we are (now wondering) whether or not, if we appealed that now, whether we would actually get off, because there seems to be a shift in interpretation and what the end result is.
“I think every club is confused. The problem is we will get to the end of the year, there will be a number of reviews, and this will be an area (of discussion).
“But we have got to, at some point, get to a stage where we stop mid-year confusion and (stop) making things up on the run (because) it’s happening all over again.”
The 2016 premiership coach is not shy in voicing an opinion when he spots an issue he believes is worth tackling.
He said decisions should be influenced only by intent rather than the impact of an incident, saying accidents can happen and a player should not be suspended simply because an injury has occurred.
“We keep moving away from trying to establish any sort of intent and precedent. It’s a bit of a dog’s breakfast, unfortunately,” he said.
The immediate priority is trying to shore up the Bulldogs’ spot in the eight and continue their recent momentum against a clear premiership contender.
The Bulldogs were outstanding in the third term against Melbourne last week and are a win clear of the Demons, Carlton and the Giants, but they have played an extra game.
Geelong has won four matches in succession to move to third but is in a tight race to earn a double-chance and home qualifying final.
The results of clashes between the two rivals since 2016 have favoured the home team, but in 2020 this match is being played on neutral turf.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said he would resist the temptation to play captain Joel Selwood, who has a minor knee niggle. “He would play with no arms and legs if you left it completely up to him and it’s just not the right option for us, in our opinion, to play him when he is less than 100 per cent,” he said.
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