We’ve all been on this ride before.
Luke Beveridge moves the magnets around and it takes us by shock. Some fans are enamoured, others are sick to their stomachs.
Sometimes he sticks with the ideas. Other times, he dumps them straight away and moves onto the next grand plan to throw the opposition off.
At times it works. Genius, some say. After all, the Bulldogs have only missed the finals in two of Beveridge’s eight full seasons in charge.
Other times, they play four key forwards and lose by 50 points in the opening round of the season, albeit against a raging flag favourite. Sometimes, the plans don’t look like they’ll work on paper and then they don’t.
No harm, no foul. Except after over eight years of it, these things can build up. Supporters can be left feeling disenchanted about their club.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is under immense pressure in 2023. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
The ship tends to pull itself on course at the Bulldogs in the Beveridge era. Usually, they sneak into one of the final few spots of the top eight and go from there.
They’ve only won in two of six finals series, but they made the grand final both times. One thing’s for sure, it’s one heck of a ride one way or another at the Bulldogs.
Yet 2023 has come and the first round simply brought disappointment. Beveridge has time, he re-signed until the end of 2025. But what exactly does he expect out of his team this season?
We are looking at arguably the best midfield group in the league, possessing some of the very best at their specialised craft. Marcus Bontempelli could win the Brownlow, while Tom Liberatore is the premier clearance player in the league.
To the surprise of no one, these two alongside Jack Macrae, Adam Treloar and Bailey Smith were terrific through the midfield against Melbourne.
Letting another off-season pass and returning with a team similar to the last, is a fact that irks supporters and fans alike. Now, there’s quality all over the ground with this group.
The aforementioned midfield group is superb, Aaron Naughton is a beacon of light in attack, Bailey Dale and Ed Richards are incredibly talented in different facets of the game in the defensive half, Cody Weightman is a star on the rise and Tim English is such a well-rounded player.
Jamarra Ugle-Hagan is on the right path and Sam Darcy could be anything. Top-end talent is rarely the issue at the Kennel, though.
What separates and ultimately caps the potential of the Bulldogs is the way the list is structured.
While we look at Geelong, Melbourne and Richmond as teams who have had a stranglehold on the competition for a significant period of time, we see teams that have their structures in place and who carefully curate their list and develop their players to fill the exact roles required within the team.
If we look across the board, whether it’s Brad Close and Gryan Miers, Alex Neal-Bullen and James Harmes, or Jack Graham and Kamdyn McIntosh as examples, the clubs have turned these solid players into vital members of successful teams by creating roles and giving instructions as to how to best perform in them.
All these teams have a “next man up” mentality – if a player misses, no matter how talented, the roles rarely change and the player filling in knows exactly what to do.
Now into a ninth season, and no one can honestly put their hand up and know how the Bulldogs are going to play during 2023. It’s equally likely that they’ll drop the four-man forward line this week as it is that they will play an entire season with it.
The art form to convincing players to buy into “next man up”, is to show the rewards that can be achieved by its success. It’s very hard to showcase this when the tactics change on a dime and there is no specific role to be filled.
Anthony Scott, for instance, spent time as a small forward, a forward flanker, a wingman and across half-back all within a six-week period in 2022. He ends up being treated unfairly by some fans when the truth is, a fringe player trying to establish themselves in the AFL isn’t given the opportunity to develop into a role.
Sam Darcy showed good signs behind the ball to ease into his career and has been thrust forward. The recruitment of Rory Lobb means Josh Bruce has been thrown back.
Sam Darcy appears to have limitless AFL potential. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )
Did the Bulldogs even need Lobb with Ugle-Hagan developing and the knowledge that Darcy would play forward? Who knows. Buku Khamis and Mitch Hannan switched between attack and defence randomly and neither could establish their spots.
Alastair Clarkson famously played young players in a new position to teach them what to expect upon returning to their more familiar role. This was done through years of work, rather than sporadic weeks.
Ultimately, Beveridge is a coach that has brought his club great success, but instead of following trends across the competition, he has consistently tried to be a contrarian and it hurts his players and the fans.
The Bulldogs need to be solid down back and not rely on Ed Richards breaking intercepting records in a demolition. Liam Jones is seemingly the saviour but an ageing defender who was out of the game for over a year is a hard one to rely upon. Ryan Gardiner’s injury hurts.
Then, there’s the lack of speed. Bailey Dale’s coverage by foot has helped cover that a little, but there’s no transition foot speed, or anyone to carve the opposition up forward of centre.
Perhaps the four-pronged tall attack would’ve worked better with Weightman and Arthur Jones applying pressure at the feet. Beveridge knew they weren’t going to play and instead, had no follow-up at ground level. Jake Bowey and Trent Rivers feasted.
Things in the short-term are going to change out of necessity at the Bulldogs. Lobb’s injured, so they’ll play smaller up front and a couple of the smalls are due to return.
If Round 1 is anything to go by though, what Bulldogs fans should expect from this season is more magnet throwing covered by the blanket term of “innovation”, inconsistent results that will bring both joy and despair, and brilliance from stars to help cover everything in between.
There’s good young talent on this list, between slightly known quantities Darcy, Ugle-Hagan, Weightman, Richards and Dom Bedendo, as well as recent recruits Jones, Jedd Busslinger, Charlie Clarke and Harvey Gallagher.
The concern, however, is that their development could be hindered by a prideful contrarian ethos that can be detrimental to an already inconsistent tactical approach.
At the moment, Bevo’s rollercoaster ride is leaving Bulldogs fans feeling nauseous, rather than exhilarated. He’s had his fun on the journey but now it’s finally time to focus on the destination.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Sorry to hear your folks missed out on seeing the Bloods great victory in 05’ Condolences mate, regardless of them passing it never leaves us the hurt on our parents passing. My mum passed recently from Alzheimers & it was very difficult time. When l was young mum was the one that would gather her boys to the footy week in & week out, great memories & no doubt as you with yours :thumbup:
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
The Dogs did have have an amazing ride to the Premiership, for sure. I loved it when a young Bont nailed Luke Hodge in a changing of the guard in one of the finals. I also remember the slingshot footy you played to beat West Coast (I think) in the West. It was awesome stuff! I'm glad you guys finally won a second flag (it was the year of the Dogs) after waiting so long as my parents passed away before the Bloods finally broke the 72 year drought in 2005. It was a shame the Saints couldn't pinch another flag, and they would have if the draw against Collingwood went to extra time in 2010. I like seeing success shared around, though I'll be happy when Geelong finally start dropping away, which has already begun, I reckon ...
Chanon
Roar Rookie
It must hurt mate losing after as you suggest your year was outstanding @ we came from the clouds.That ride from beating WCE to the prelim against the Giants was scintillating football gee wiz l get goose bumps reminiscing those glory moments. The GF was a foregone conclusion. In my head as a supporter l was calm & collected all week leading up to the GF & l feel the players felt the same. A universal synergy between players & die hard supporters. It may sound bizarre & a tad arrogant but l speak from the heart man.l knew we would win.
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Yep. He's not a good enough kick to be a key forward ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Swans were by far the best team across the season in 2014 and 16, yet lost both those GF’s. Got mugged by Hawthorn in 2014 and should have won in 2016, but the Gods (and umpires) weren’t smiling on the Bloods that day. Must win the next one after losing the past 3 GF’s, which is very disappointing. Disagree with you Dingo re Collingwood, who should have played off against Geelong last year (they would have beaten us if the game went for another 5 minutes), and probably would have beaten them. They certainly have the wood on the Cats in 2023 …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
It wasn't a comprehensive win at all. If Buddy hadn't have done his ankle in the first quarter and the umpires weren't riding the Dogs home it most likely would have been a different result. Boyd played the best game of his short career, then pretty much retired, Picken took marks and kicked goals that he never had before or did again and so on. It was one out of the box, but that's how Grand Finals often go, and I don't begrudge the Dogs. But you can't deny the umpiring all went one way, and Sydney were easily the best team of 2016 across the season ...
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
Bulldogs midfield may have talent, but it’s not explosive like Sydney or Collingwood’s midfield. In 2023 the game is about speed and pure kicking skills, neither of which the Dogs have. The defence is average (St Kilda’s teenagers embarrassed them) and the forwards are flakey, just like Brisbane’s. (Why the Dogs recruited Rory Lobb, the flakiest tall forward in the AFL, is beyond me? Jamarra also isn’t developing quickly enough, and he isn’t intense enough from what he’s shown so far.) Couldn’t beat a plucky St Kilda missing so many players and playing so many kids. Who are Footscray’s emerging kids? I can’t name one. Will be lucky to make the bottom of the 8. I have a mate who’s a passionate Dogs supporter. He hates Bevo. Bevo should have been moved on, not re-signed …
okapiman
Roar Rookie
Keep Beveridge there as long as you can. The adhoc coaching approach worked for a while.. worn off. The umps gave him 2016 not coaching. Several years at the bottom ahead if Beveridge stays.. better for the rest of us!
Dusty does Danger
Roar Rookie
Must admit I didn’t have the Doggies in the 8 this year with Port taking their place.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
I think the issue with the bulldogs is they have never given themselves the best opportunity to win the flag either by deliberately swinging the magnets around like Bevo does and as a result that lack of consistency means they miss out on a top four spot. Don’t get me wrong the Bulldogs have a team of champions but Bevo has made mistakes trying to get all the puzzle pieces to work.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
The issue I find is the bulldogs are always playing on the edge in my opinion. You can see it in the fact that despite they’ve made two grand finals the bulldogs have never finished inside the top four which before the bye before finals was almost a pre requisite to making a charge at a flag
berrlins
Roar Pro
funnily enough he won a flag of contested ball and a defensive unit that had no real top end key defenders but worked perfectly in synch together as a back 6. They seem to have broken abit of the culture they built in 2015/16. Also they're stuck in 2021 where they were the best offensive team going around and built their season around dominating lower teams and having shot outs with the top 4. Bevo has until mid 2024 to work it out for mine. His history unfortunatley has bought him more time than he maybe deserves and he will almost certainly survive this season no matter what comes. But if he has a lackluster season and follows it up with another he'll be gone by May.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
Agree. We did better than 16 other teams. Had a disagreement with a Collingwood supporter when they said “we would have given Geelong a better game in the GF”. What rubbish. Weren’t good enough the week before so silly argument. Geelong were just red hot last year. The year before the Demons had a ridiculously good quarter that blew the game open. It happens. The ride to a GF is an exciting one, it then takes a huge effort to get across the line.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Fair enough mate l understand where your coming from, no offence :thumbup:
XI
Roar Guru
What? I'm comparing him to the Giants coach. I mean he was lucky to get through to the GF since the prelim margin was a goal.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
At least we've got to see our teams play in grand finals. I'd rather watch them lose than not watch them at all.
Dingo
Roar Rookie
It was NH, one of the closest GFs in the last 10 years. Both teams had chances to win - Bulldogs just took theirs. Never like blaming umpires... they just do a job . Sadly the last 2 GFs involving both our clubs have been blow outs, at least you guys were still in it at half time.!! Onwards and upwards
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I was actually a cracking grand final that was anyone's to win until halfway through the last quarter. Those whinging about the umpires don't do it justice.
Skip
Roar Rookie
Well written as all ways Dem, thank you. Yep Beveridge is certainly an enigma and as a Dees supporter I all ways thought that Goody all so moved his magnets in a similar way, believe me it could be quite nerve wracking so feel for the players and supporters , but I feel that Bevo is loved/respected (eroding? Must be a bit) by his chargers and as an outsider I still buy in to what his selling after all this time. I sure thought his land of the giants was a real threat, till it wasn’t. that is his super power. His Colonel Kurtz in more ways than one. Loathe u but respect u doggies, love our battles.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Our game plan is still built around dominating possession but other teams have figured that out - we push our zone up so when other teams win the ball they have free players everywhere, which makes us really easy to score against and gives our defenders no chance. It also means that we never have space in our forward line for the forwards to lead into. We either have to start controlling the ball again (which we can't against Melbourne, which is why the flog us so much) or change our structure to be more accountable. I've seen it in action; other teams are working hard whilst our players get in their zone and just shuffle across the ground. We don't work hard enough.