Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has given further insight into his viral evisceration of the AFL, saying a love of the game were behind his blistering comments.
Speaking after the Bulldogs’ 12-point defeat to Fremantle on Friday, Beveridge finished his post-game press conference by detailing the reasons why he decided to blast the league.
When asked on Wednesday for his thoughts on the changes to the draft, the long-time Bulldogs mentor went into a three-minute monologue on the state of the game.
Beveridge described the AFL as a “punching bag” and claimed the game had become “ping pong” due to the league’s desire for broadcast revenue.
The 2016 AFL premiership coach got his start at local level, leading amateur side St Bedes-Mentone to an unprecedented three consecutive flags from C to A Grade.
“Ultimately, most of us are protectors of the players’ interests, at this level, but definitely in metropolitan and regional centres,” Beveridge said on Friday night.
“Whichever direction we take the game, we’ve got to cater for everyone who’s playing it, not just our national competition.
“It’s got to be the pathways and everyone who needs security and understanding.
“Sometimes simplicity can be brilliance.
“My message was probably mostly around how there can be clutter that we can cut through.”
Beveridge said he had a “conversation or two” planned with people at the AFL
“Those of us who have been in the game long enough can help because all we care about is the beauty of our game and its longevity and its durability,” he said.
“Any comment comes from the heart and the interests of everyone who loves the game.
“It’s not out of self interest.
“It’s got nothing to do with our club, our team, or me.
“It’s got to do with everyone.
“We’ve got to keep improving things, and when things aren’t quite right, we’ve got to work through how to do that.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s latest folk hero Brayden Cook is responsible for a season “momentum changer”, his coach says.
Cook entered the annals of Showdown history with a match-winning goal in the Crows’ dramatic one-point escape over Port Adelaide.
The wingman’s shot on the run from 45 metres sailed through with about a dozen seconds remaining, sealing victory in the closest clash of the arch foes.
“That’s Brayden’s weapon,” Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks said of Cook’s scorching right foot.
“Brayden has had that since he arrived at the club as a what we thought was a 13-year-old, but knew he’d take a little bit of time to round his game out.”
The age jibe was a reference to Cook, a project player when selected with pick 25 at the 2020 draft.
Cook has played just 38 AFL games but is in the midst of a breakout season on the wing.
“He’s always had a high-end talent with the ball in his hand,” Nicks said.
“It was a matter of getting him in the right positions and getting him to understand the contest part to it.
“We have all seen it this season especially that he’s taking his game to a new level … to have the ball in his hands at that point, I think most of us would be reasonably confident that he’s going to finish.”
The Crows, with their 11.10 (76) to 11.9 (75) triumph at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, square their win-loss ledger at four-all.
“The boys will take a lot of confidence out of that,” Nicks said.
“You talk about moments to this point in the season – it has been a bit of a grind for us.
“But I think this one was a bit of a momentum changer … our guys would take a lot of belief and a lot of momentum out of this win, a really important one.”
The Crows meet lowly Richmond at the MCG next Sunday with doubt over book-ends Taylor Walker and Jordon Butts.
Full-forward Walker strained a hamstring and full-back Butts hurt a groin – both didn’t complete the game against Port.