Report alleges strained relationship between Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and football department head.
Reportedly, there are tensions between Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and the executive director of football, Chris Grant, as the club approaches a crucial season. Despite Beveridge being under contract until the end of 2025, the pressure is on him to lead the team to a rebound after failing to make the finals in 2023.
The Bulldogs underwent a review of their football department following their struggles last year, resulting in some changes to roles in an effort to improve performance and unity for the upcoming season. According to Braden Ingram of Nine News, the relationship between Beveridge and Grant has been strained due to various factors, including disagreements over personnel decisions such as the departure of assistant coach Rohan Smith, which Beveridge opposed.
Ingram explained that Beveridge’s desire to retain Smith clashed with Grant and CEO Ameet Bains’s perspective, contributing to the strained relationship. Furthermore, the appointment of Matthew Egan from Geelong as the coaching performance manager, followed by his quick promotion to general manager of football operations after a department review, has altered the reporting structure, with Beveridge now reporting indirectly to Grant through Egan.
This arrangement, deemed “highly unusual” by other clubs, has added tension to the relationship between Beveridge and Grant. While the Bulldogs claim the change was made to ease Grant’s workload, it is evident that the dynamic between the two men has been affected.
