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Respected AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has urged the league to hand Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge a ‘six-figure fine’ following his extraordinary press conference attack on Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris.
Speaking on Neil Mitchell’s 3AW morning program on Thursday, Wilson, who works for the radio station and is also chief football writer at Melbourne’s The Age newspaper, was scathing of Beveridge, suggesting the 2016 premiership coach ‘clearly can’t deal with life at the moment’ and may not be fit to be a senior coach.
“I think it’s bigger than the AFL looking at fining Luke Beveridge, which they certainly will – he’s brought the game into disrepute,” Wilson said.
“I think it should be a six-figure fine myself.
“I think Luke Beveridge needs to look at whether he is equipped to coach… what we saw last night is a man unravelling, and I’m quite serious about this.”
Wilson was particularly dismissive of Beveridge’s allegation that Morris had jeopardised Bulldogs player Lachie Hunter’s mental health, after reporting news that the wingman was set to be dropped before teams had officially been named for the Dogs’ Round 1 clash with Melbourne.
“Who invokes the mental health and wellbeing card over a selection story? I’ve never seen anything so disgraceful in all my years of covering football,” Wilson said.
“It is a man who’s clearly not coping.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Wilson even went so far as to question whether Beveridge, the only living Bulldogs premiership coach, needs to reconsider his suitability to lead the club.
“I don’t think he’s equipped to be looking after the futures of 30 young men, quite frankly,” she said.
Wilson then went on to urge the Bulldogs to take action themselves to reprimand Beveridge, saying the club ‘need to step up’.
Should they not, then the veteran journalist has encouraged a media ban on Beveridge until the matter is dealt with.
“People cannot treat other people like this in public over a story,” Wilson said.
“This football club, which is run by good people… they’re allowing something dreadful to go on, and they need to step up.
“If the Bulldogs don’t respond and there isn’t an adequate response from the AFL, I would urge all journalists to ban Luke Beveridge.
“He doesn’t have a right to perform in public if that’s what he’s going to do.”
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