- Luke Beveridge didn’t want applause for the Dogs’ campaign
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has shut down applause from the audience while delivering a brutal assessment of the Bulldogs’ 2025 footy season.
The Bulldogs were left licking their wounds from an AFL season that promised a lot but delivered little.
Finishing in ninth position on the AFL ladder with 14 wins and a wealth of talent, the Bulldogs were unlucky not to make the eight.
While speaking at the club’s best and fairest event, veteran coach Luke Beveridge reflected on the 2025 campaign.
‘Seven out of the nine losses to teams above us,’ he said.
‘We were right in the game. The other two – Collingwood and Geelong – we were competitive for four quarters but couldn’t quite get over the line.
Luke Beveridge (pictured) shut down applause for the Dogs’ 2025 season at the club’s awards ceremony on Wednesday night
The Western Bulldogs finished ninth on the ladder and missed out on the finals
Beveridge (pictured at the 2016 Brownlow) said the club aspires to greater things
‘So, definite growth, but the wins stayed the same.’
Somebody in the audience applauded while Beveridge was collecting his thoughts.
‘No, don’t clap it. Because that’s mediocrity,’ Beveridge said.
‘We finished ninth, but I appreciate the sentiment.
‘I think that’s the thing though, isn’t it? Our expectations are raised – they have been for the last decade, since we’ve made grand finals, and that’s where we pitch.
‘The players were extremely flat and tormented that we didn’t make the finals series, we needed another couple of wins – we all feel it.
‘We don’t get personal, but there’s no doubt that we aspire to greater things.’
Talented midfielder Ed Richards was recognised for an excellent 2025 campaign, taking out the Charles Sutton Medal at the event.
The 26-year-old edged out six-time winner Marcus Bontempelli by 13 votes in a thrilling count.
