Mark Robinson: Sunday’s loss an alarming reality check for Dogs, Beveridge

It’s precarious times at the Kennel, and it seems Luke Beveridge is fighting a bushfire with a garden hose and there is an inferno coming over the hill, writes MARK ROBINSON.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 18: Luke Beveridge, Senior Coach of the Bulldogs looks on during the 2024 AFL Round 06 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on April 18, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Luke Beveridge will know when it’s time.

He won’t be sacked by the Western Bulldogs, but he’ll know when the party is over.

It won’t be this week, despite the unexpected loss to Hawthorn on Sunday.

But it could be next week if the Bulldogs lose to lowly Richmond on Saturday night.

It’s that precarious at the kennel.

After that, they play the Giants (away), Sydney (home), Collingwood (Marvel Stadium) and then Brisbane (Marvel).

It feels like Beveridge is fighting a bushfire with a garden hose and the inferno is still yet to come over the hill.

Sunday’s loss to the Hawks was so disheartening and so much of an alarming reality check that even the staunchest Beveridge supporters would have lost faith.

Suddenly for fans, the hopelessness of playing finals was laid bare.

Beveridge’s side are under pressure after their loss to the Hawks. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

There’s always one game that becomes unacceptable.

The Beveridge detractors would argue it came in Round 23 last year when the Bulldogs lost to West Coast at Marvel Stadium. It was the Eagles’ third win of the season and the immediate punishment for the Bulldogs was they missed finals.

All was forgiven. Back-to-back reviews of the footy department ensued, personnel changes were made and the new season loomed with internal confidence and external optimism.

Of their first eight games, six were against teams that didn’t play finals in 2023.

They are 3-5 in that stretch.

If the Hawks game wasn’t THE game, then the Tigers game will be.

If it is a loss – and unless Beveridge is as stubborn as his critics say – it’s impossible to believe the coach would put his head on his pillow that night and not ask himself: Am I the right person to coach this footy club?

Maybe the powers that be – especially Ameet Bains, the chief executive that said Beveridge had a top-four list to coach – might ask him to ask himself the question.

Mind you, the Bulldogs might find confidence, they might find more midfielders, they might correct their handball game, they might stop turning the ball over and they might stop bombing the ball into the forward 50m, hoping one of their big blokes will mark it. In doing so, they might resurrect their season.

This doom commentary would pass, but there’s too many “mights” there.

I would argue the Bulldogs’ top, top-end is elite – and that’s Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore.

Is the Dogs’ list as good as we think? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The rest of the big names – Aaron Naughton, Tim English, Adam Treloar, Liam Jones, Ed Richards, Bailey Dale, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Cody Weightman – stagger between outstanding, serviceable and average.

Caleb Daniel is done at the Dogs, the career of Jack Macrae, a club champion, is coming to an end faster than what he’s moving, Bailey Smith is who knows where in his mind, and all of that makes Josh Dunkley’s departure to Brisbane even more devastating.

Now that Libba is out indefinitely, with what is understood to be his third concussion in 10 games in his past nine AFL games. That’s frightening in itself.

Very quickly, you could argue the list has been exposed.

Either that, or argue that Beveridge’s messaging, or style of coaching, has lost its lustre.

That’s the burning question the Bulldogs must now grapple with. Is it the list, self-belief in the players, or is it Beveridge?

Change often works.

Is Bevo’s message still getting across? (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Giants coach Leon Cameron stood down eight rounds into the 2022 season. The Giants played finals in 2021 and in Cameron’s ninth year, they were 2-6 before he departed.

The new coach, Adam Kingsley, had the same list but a new fast-moving game plan and got the Giants to the preliminary final in 2023.

This is Beveridge’s 10th season as coach. He is a fighter. Always has been. He was never the most talented as a player, but he had grit and a tremendous work ethic.

But if this season continues to go pear-shaped, he will need to park that instinct to fight and fix the problems and accept that what he’s demanding from his players is not being delivered.

That means a change is needed.

And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a premiership coach or not, the party always ends for everyone.

Originally published as Mark Robinson: Sunday’s loss an alarming reality check for Dogs, Beveridge