Embattled Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he has ‘no concerns’ about his leadership style, as his team fights for a finals berth.
Intense scrutiny over Beveridge’s future at the Bulldogs came to a head following their shock loss to West Coast last week, which leaves the Dogs’ finals hopes out of their own hands.
They will now need to defeat a much-weakened Geelong at GMHBA Stadium for their first win at the venue since 2003, while also hoping Carlton beat GWS in the year’s final home-and-away fixture, to sneak into eighth for the second straight season – though critics argue the Dogs’ list is too strong to be merely scraping into September.
Speaking on Friday, Beveridge reiterated that ‘dramatic change’ of his playing and coaching group throughout his nine seasons has coach has contributed to the Dogs’ lack of consistency.
Celebrated in years gone by as one of the AFL’s best motivators, he was also adamant his messaging is still cutting through at the Kennel.
“I coach with a lot of passion, there’s a lot of emotion in me that comes through in my journey with the teams that I’ve coached,” Beveridge said.
“This weekend, it’s really Marcus [Bontempelli] and Tom [Liberatore] that started with me nine years ago, we’ve had dramatic change all around me from a list point of view and definitely a staff point of view.
“You’re searching for the chemistry to reconcile with the emotion and the headspace that you’re after.
“I’ve got no concern that my messaging doesn’t resonate with our group. But it’s my challenge to continue to prod and explore what the right recipe is week-to-week and year-to-year. I’ve got no concerns.”
The Dogs face the Cats on Saturday night at GMHBA Stadium; win that, and they will nervously await Sunday’s clash between the Blues and Giants that will determine their finals fate.
Luke Beveridge. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Gillon McLachlan has confirmed details of a change to the video review system as the AFL tries to avoid a finals repeat of the Adelaide debacle.
The AFL chief executive said on Friday an extra supervisor would work in the league’s video review centre, known as ARC, throughout the finals series.
That person will have direct communication with the field umpires and be able to call for a hold in play if an incident needs to be reviewed.
The decision follows last Saturday night’s dramatic end to the Crows-Sydney game, when Adelaide player Ben Keays’ late effort was signalled as hitting the post but replays showed it clearly was a goal.
There was no review and Sydney won the match by a point, putting the Crows out of finals contention.
“We’ve reviewed it from every different angle – there will be a change, a second supervisor put in the ARC to have a direct line of communication with the umpire,” McLachlan told 3AW.
Ben Keays and Izak Rankine celebrate what they thought was a goal – but had hit the post. (Photo by Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
McLachlan noted Sydney player Jake Lloyd, who was under the goal post when the ball went through, and controlling field umpire Brett Rosebury thought it hit the post.
“(But) it was a clear mistake, it would have been overturned on review,” McLachlan said.
He added the newly installed supervisor would need to act quickly if they felt the need to initiate a review of an incident.
“There are a lot of decisions want to be made. People don’t want the game slowing down and that’s the discretion that needs to be used at the right time – that’s the difficulty of it,” McLachlan said.
“There is decision-making to be made at all times, which is not related to technology or systems. That’s what has played out here
“People don’t like the game being held up generally. It allows (players) to set up and it changes the flow of the game.”
McLachlan said the goal umpire, who has been stood down for the rest of the season, was “mortified” about the error.
Adam Simpson has thanked cricket great Justin Langer for his “invaluable” wisdom and support as the West Coast coach nervously awaits his fate.
Simpson is contracted until the end of 2025, and the club’s board were vocal earlier this year in backing the coach to continue on next season despite the Eagles’ horror run of results.
But the deathly silence from the boardroom since the 101-point loss to Fremantle a fortnight ago has left Simpson in limbo, with the 47-year-old expected to find out his fate early next week.
Last week’s shock seven-point win over the Western Bulldogs has revived hopes Simpson could be retained, with fans and players rallying behind the 2018 premiership coach in recent days.
A petition to retain Simpson, which has attracted more than 4500 signatures, will be presented to West Coast before Saturday night’s clash with Adelaide at Optus Stadium.
Langer, who was controversially squeezed out as Australia’s cricket coach in 2022, has been on West Coast’s board since 2017.
The former Test star is close friends with Simpson but it remains to be seen whether Langer can convince the rest of the board to stick with the current coach.
“It’s a challenge for JL because he’s on the board,” Simpson replied when asked what words of advice Langer has had for him.
“He’s going to make decisions based on what’s best for the club, not for me. So that’s separate.
“But in terms of what he’s been through and how he’s handled it, and what he’s experienced (during his own coaching career), that’s invaluable.
“He is and always will be a good friend of mine. I respect his leadership and what he’s done for the club, and for me personally.”
Simpson says he appreciates the support shown by the fans but wants the focus to be squarely on retiring stars Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui in Saturday’s Adelaide encounter.
Shuey and Hurn will return from injury to play against the Crows but Naitanui will miss out on a farewell match having undergone season-ending surgery on his achilles tendon.
Adam Simpson. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Last year, West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy booted eight goals in his farewell game – a 22-point loss to Adelaide.
Simpson hopes the emotion surrounding Hurn, Shuey and Naitanui will help his team against the Crows.
If North Melbourne beat Gold Coast in Tasmania earlier on Saturday, West Coast will finish last and earn the No.1 draft pick if they fail to beat Adelaide.
Simpson insists winning will remain his team’s focus.
“It’s important to give everything you’ve got on field,” Simpson said.
“That’s why this tanking stuff is just not in our thoughts, because a game like that last week (against the Bulldogs) will pay us back in years to come.”
Collingwood’s bid to wrap up the minor premiership has been given a huge boost after Essendon were hit for six on the injury front, while Carlton have loaded up on star power for their match against Greater Western Sydney.
The fallout from Essendon’s 126-point loss to GWS last weekend has gone from bad to worse, with Jake Stringer, Sam Draper, Peter Wright, Jye Caldwell, Matt Guelfi and Jake Kelly all ruled out of Friday night’s clash with the Magpies at the MCG.
Sam Weideman, Nick Bryan, Will Snelling and Will Setterfield are among the inclusions, while retiring forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti will be the tactical sub.
Collingwood welcome back Jordan De Goey and Bobby Hill from injury, but defender Nathan Murphy has been ruled out.
The Magpies will be guaranteed to finish top with victory over the Bombers but a loss would open the door for the Brisbane Lions to leapfrog them.
The second-placed Lions have lost Lincoln McCarthy to injury but will still start as hot favourites against St Kilda at the Gabba on Saturday.
The Saints made the surprise decision to rest Max King a week after he booted 3.3 in a 33-point win over Geelong.
King’s withdrawal has opened the door for forward Jack Hayes to play his first AFL match since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in round six last year.
Fifth-placed Carlton are leaving nothing to chance as they attempt to lock in a home elimination final.
Mitch McGovern, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra have been named to return for Sunday’s match against GWS, but Sam Docherty (calf) goes out.
The Western Bulldogs’ slim finals hopes have been boosted by Geelong’s injury crisis.
Mitch Duncan has been ruled out of Saturday night’s match at GMHBA Stadium through suspension, while Jeremy Cameron, Tom Hawkins, Esava Ratugolea, Brad Close and Tanner Bruhn are all injured.
The Bulldogs get Tom Liberatore back from concussion but Taylor Duryea (suspension), Bailey Smith (illness) and Jack Macrae (concussion) have all been ruled out.
Fremantle’s Michael Walters returns from a calf injury for Saturday’s meeting with Hawthorn at the MCG, while defender Joel Hamling has earned a recall.
Dockers midfielder Jaeger O’Meara will miss with a calf injury, while the Hawks regain Jai Newcombe.
West Coast have recalled retiring stars Luke Shuey and Shannon Hurn for their Saturday night farewell against Adelaide.
The Crows have lost Rory Laird to injury and dropped Riley Thilthorpe.
A new era begins at Richmond on Sunday following the retirement of Jack Riewoldt and Trent Cotchin, while Dion Prestia (knee) will also miss the match against Port Adelaide.
Melbourne will welcome back forward Bayley Fritsch from a foot fracture for Sunday’s clash with Sydney at the SCG, while Tom McDonald has been named in the extended squad.
North Melbourne have lost co-captain Luke McDonald (hamstring) and Jack Ziebell (retired) for Saturday’s encounter with Gold Coast in Tasmania.
Luke Davies-Uniacke, who was a late scratching last week, hasn’t been able to recover from his foot injury.
The Suns have lost Jack Lukosius and Bailey Humphrey to injury.
(AAP)
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