Western Bulldogs football boss Matthew Egan quizzed on coach Luke Beveridge’s future
Western Bulldogs football boss Matthew Egan has backed “innovator” Luke Beveridge to turn the club’s season around and been quizzed about the under-pressure coach’s future at Whitten Oval.
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Western Bulldogs footy boss Matt Egan is adamant Luke Beveridge has the backing of the playing group as the pressure mounts at the Kennel.
The Bulldogs have started the season 3-5 despite lofty expectations entering 2024, and face a difficult run of games, with games against the Giants, Swans, Magpies, Lions and Dockers before their bye.
Egan stopped short of saying the list was developing, however he backed Beveridge to lift the Bulldogs back to premiership contention.
“We’re not a rebuilding team but there is some inconsistencies in our performances so far,” he said on SEN.
“We’ve got some players that have been in and out of form a little bit this year: Caleb Daniel, who’s obviously been a really experienced player for us, Rory Lobb, they’ve been in and out of the team.
“We’re not developing, there’s no doubt we’re in it for the win now and the reason why we bring in guys like (Nick) Coffield and (James) Harmes to try to help build our depth as a footy club.
“We’re definitely in it to win this year, but at the moment we’ve got some players who are still learning their positions, and trying to win for the now.
“We do have five players under 20 games, so some inconsistencies can come about when they’re still learning their positions.”
Just three years on from the Bulldogs’ 2021 grand final appearance, and with 15 of the 23 players from the side still on the club’s list, Beveridge has coached in just one further finals match: a 13-point elimination final loss to Fremantle in 2022.
A round 23 loss to 18th-placed West Coast cost the Bulldogs a finals berth in 2023, and after inking a contract extension, which expires at the end of 2025, the Bulldogs will need a change in fortune to play in September this year.
Despite the struggles on-field this season, Beveridge’s track record as a coach would be envied around the competition.
“I’ve never seen a coach connect as well as I have with Bevo with his players, his ability to story tell and create a narrative with the players is amazing,” he said.
“He’s an incredible coach, he’s an innovator, when you’re playing against Bulldogs they’re quite tricky to play, they’re always looking to do things slightly different around the ball.
“He had a big influence on the handball game that the Bulldogs have ran with for years, but he’s always looking to change it and look for new ways of winning.
“I feel like he’s got a pretty good record, and there would be plenty of coaches out there that would take his record so far as a coach. He’s definitely got the energy, that’s for sure.
“The Hawks game was obviously disappointing but the whole competition is just so even.
“Richmond is our whole focus, and yes you can look too far ahead and what it might look like in four or five weeks, but all our energy will be towards Richmond this week because the comp is so even.”
Originally published as Western Bulldogs football boss Matthew Egan quizzed on coach Luke Beveridge’s future
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