‘It was a trap’: Eddie’s conspiracy theory on AFL coach

Eddie McGuire has suggested subterfuge could be the real reason Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is facing “a serious accusation.

Eddie McGuire on Channel 9's Footy Classified.

Eddie McGuire has suggested Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge may have been playing a game of espionage surrounding the selection of Lachie Hunter for the AFL season opener on Wednesday night.

Hunter’s place in the team for the grand final re-match against Melbourne blew up into a storm on Tuesday after it was reported on Monday night that Hunter was set to be dropped from the team.

Hunter was then named in the team on Tuesday night.

Beveridge refused to respond to the story, first reported by Fox Footy’s Tom Morris, when speaking to reporters during a scheduled media conference on Tuesday.

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“I’m aware of the reports, but the team will come out this afternoon,” Beveridge told reporters.

“It’s speculation from a journalist, so you can’t expect me to bite before the teams come out.”

Beveridge also refused to answer a basic question about Hunter’s form during the pre-season.

“Boys, the team will come out this afternoon, so I’m not going to talk about Lachie Hunter if this is some kind of interrogation or investigation into how he’s been going,” he replied.

“It’ll all be unnecessary at the end of the day, anyway.”

Bulldog Lachie Hunter. Pic: Michael Klein

McGuire followed it up in Tuesday night’s episode of Footy Classified on Channel 9 by claiming Beveridge could have been playing a game to chase a potential “rat” by letting a story about Hunter leak to the press.

“The Dogs were filthy about that vision of them singing the song getting out last year,” McGuire said.

“Was it a trap? It’s been known to happen.”

Footy Classified panellist and former AFL coach Ross Lyon said similar plots had been hatched before in the AFL — and even admitted Fremantle attempted to hunt down a similar leak during his time at the club.

He said he “couldn’t remember” if the club found the source of the leak.

“Their game plan has gotten out previously, as well, so it has been known to happen,” Lyon said of the Bulldogs.

“If you think you’re leaky, it has been discussed.”

He said it was “a bit unusual” for Beveridge to be potentially using Hunter to either chase a leak or to give his players a rocket by showing them none of them were guaranteed to be selected in the team’s best 22 players

Lyon said the intrigue surrounding Hunter’s place in the team could also be linked to the Bulldogs “locking out everyone over the off-season as well”.

Eddie McGuire on Channel 9's Footy Classified.

Caroline Wilson said Beveridge was out of line in refusing to answer basic questions about Hunter. She cited a similar situation last year surrounding the club’s decision to select No. 1 draft pick Jeremy Ugle-Hagan — and Beveridge’s refusal to address why such a talented player was being overlooked.

On Tuesday several other reporters posted on Twitter there was “strong mail” Hunter was set to be dropped.

Morris said on Tuesday night he was standing by his report and claimed a Bulldogs official even said the move was a tactic to give Hunter a “kick up the backside”.

“Lachie Hunter knew he was out this time last night. Not only did he know he was out, teammates knew, other club staff knew Lachie Hunter was out of the 22,” Tom Morris said on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight on Tuesday.

“It is a backflip, but I also wonder whether it’s a tactic; it was suggested to me by someone at the Western Bulldogs in the last few hours this was a tactic to actually give Lachie Hunter the kick up the backside he apparently needs.”

Essendon legend Tim Watson said on Wednesday morning it was a “serious accusation” to be speculating about Beveridge’s actions.

Watson told SEN Breakfast if the move was intended to give Hunter a wake up call, it could still backfire.

“Do you think Luke Beveridge may have been concerned about a leak at his club,” he asked.

“Or if you’ve told a player ‘you’re not in the side,’ the story breaks so you put him back in — it’s not necessarily a great way to be handling your players.

“It’s not really a good way to be managing a player.”

Fox Footy analyst — and Watson’s co-host on SEN — Gary Lyon said he “would not put it beyond coaches to be playing games like that”.

“I back Tom Morris in on this. But I also back Luke Beveridge’s right to make a call right up until five minutes before the ball is bounced.

Originally published as ‘It was a trap’: Eddie’s conspiracy theory on AFL coach