The Western Bulldogs have announced Luke Beveridge as their new head coach for the 2015 AFL season.
Following the departure of Brendan McCartney, as well as the their ex-captain Ryan Griffen, at the end of the 2014 season, Beveridge arrives with a big task of developing the Bulldogs’ group of emerging young talent.
Beveridge was expected to sign a deal that would see him join the coaching department at St Kilda, however became the frontrunner for the top job at the Bulldogs following a presentation to the club mid-week.
Neil Craig and Mark Thompson were other names touted as potential candidates to move into the position.
Beveridge began his path to AFL coaching as a player development manager at Collingwood during 2009 and 2010 seasons, seeing the ‘Pies win a premiership in 2010.
After taking a year off in 2011 he joined Hawthorn as an assistant coach for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons, seeing more premiership success as the Hawks went back-to-back.
Beveridge played 118 games for Melbourne (42), Footscray (31) and St Kilda (45), in a career that spanned eleven seasons from 1989 to 1999.