Luke Beveridge Criticized for Post-Season Speech Dig at AFL
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge couldn’t help himself from throwing shade in his post-season speech — and it hasn’t gone down well.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has found himself under fire following a subtle yet pointed remark aimed at the AFL during his speech at the club’s best and fairest awards. Delivered at the Charles Sutton Medal night, Beveridge’s comment about “inequities” in the competition has drawn both praise and criticism.
The coach’s statement comes on the heels of St Kilda president Andrew Bassat’s recent remarks, where he criticized the AFL system for not providing a level playing field. Beveridge followed suit, expressing frustration over what he perceives as challenges in the competition’s fairness, stating, “Our shared message is that we’re all obliged to prepare physically and mentally in order to confront the ever increasing challenges the evenness of the competition throws at all of us.”
“His subtle dig, which has since been viewed over 90,000 times on X (formerly Twitter), has sparked a divide among AFL fans. While some supporters resonated with his critique, others labeled the comment as unnecessary, with a few even calling it “not intelligent.” Beveridge’s remarks have added to the ongoing debate about the fairness of the AFL system, especially as teams like the Bulldogs continue to grapple with the competitive pressures of the league.
Despite the backlash, Beveridge remains a respected figure in the AFL coaching ranks, though this latest comment has certainly stirred the pot among both fans and critics alike.
