- Luke Beveridge and Tom Morris set to bury hatchet
- Coach blasted the journalist over leaked information
- Beveridge’s mental health was called into question
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is set to come face to face with footy reporter Tom Morris on national TV three years after his extraordinary spray at a post-match press conference.
The Dogs boss blew his stack at the former Fox Sports staffer after the 26-point loss on March 17, 2022, branding him an ’embarrassment’ in a press conference meltdown that shocked the footy world.
Beveridge was livid after Morris reported that he’d controversially chosen not to select premiership-winning midfielder Lachie Hunter for the clash, and tore into him as the cameras rolled.
‘You’ve got the nerve to ask me a question and even be here,’ Beveridge responded to Morris’ query about the pre-game saga around Hunter.
‘You’ve been preying on us and causing turmoil within our football club by declaring our team well before it needs to be declared.
‘Is that the gutter journalist you want to be?
Three years after their fiery press conference Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge (pictured) and footy reporter Tom Morris are set to make up
After Beveridge accused Morris (pictured) of gutter journalism, the Fox Footy reporter was then sacked over a separate issue
‘This is why the health and wellbeing in the game is caught up in all this stuff because we’ve got things to concentrate on performance-wise, we’ve got to look after our own and then you cause all this … that happens behind the scenes and names get brought up into it.’
The pair reportedly haven’t spoken since the fiery confrontation, but will be appearing together on Channel Nine’s Footy Classified show next Tuesday night, when they’ll be seated next to each other.
The premiership coach has reportedly agreed to go on the program as part of a deal with the Coaches’ Association.
Morris was sacked by Fox less than 24 hours after the infamous spray, when footage surfaced showing him making derogatory comments about women, Asians and gay people, and revealing colleague Megan Barnard’s sexuality.
Asked if he had any misgivings about the incident in December 2022, Beveridge said, ‘I regret the way it was done, where it was done, how it was done, I regret all of that.
‘Absolutely it was the one time in my eight years [as Bulldogs coach] when I felt I let my club down, myself down, because others had to wear some of that criticism, not just me, and that’s what I felt most guilty about,’ he told the Herald Sun.
The coach also indicated that he no plans to ever speak to Morris again, despite feeling badly about the way he handled the episode.
‘I’ve found it hard, when people have gone hard, to forgive and move on unless someone has come to me later on and said let’s work this out. But no, there’s no need for me to be in contact,’ he explained.
The premiership-winning coach said the Morris incident was the only time he felt he let the club down in all his years at the helm
There were calls for the premiership-winning coach to face a $100,000 fine over the incident and several football identities sharply criticised his behaviour, with St Kilda great turned commentator Nick Riewoldt saying ‘Bevo overstepped the mark’.
Beveridge dismissed speculation he was struggling mentally in the wake of the scandal.
‘I am good, I’m really good. I’m energised. I’ve never felt healthier,’ he said.
‘Couldn’t feel more passionate about what I do and the players and I have got a real strong connection.
‘I’d (also) rather just leave it (Morris situation) where it is based on everything that’s happened to him.
‘Nothing to be gained by pouring any petrol on what’s already happened.’
