Dogs coach Beveridge labels Draper’s jibe ‘bizarre’

2 weeks ago 5

By Oliver Caffrey

May 2, 2024 — 1.58pm

Western Bulldogs manager Luke Beveridge has called Essendon ruckman Sam Draper’s jibe astir his aboriginal astatine the Whitten Oval “bizarre”.

Draper earned the ire of some Bulldogs and Bombers officials aft weighing successful connected Beveridge’s coaching tenure.

Western Bulldogs manager Luke Beveridge has responded to Sam Draper’s podcast comments.

On a podcast, Draper – successful a conception successful which helium was imitating a writer – said helium had a “big call” astir the Bulldogs.

“If ‘Bevo’ is inactive there, determination volition beryllium immoderate players requesting trades,” the 25-year-old told the 200 Plus podcast.

Beveridge weighed successful connected Draper’s comments, adjacent though helium had planned not to accidental thing astir it.

“It was bizarre to me,” Beveridge said connected Thursday.

“... the radical who became aware, who are adjacent to him, the shot club, [were] highly alarmed and reached retired to maine to explicit their apologies.

“My No.1 interest is our players and taking attraction of them and [making them feel] supported.

“When thing similar that happens successful regards to maine I tin woody with it, but it’s unusual.”

Beveridge was asked however helium would consciousness if 1 of his Bulldogs players made akin comments astir an opposing coach.

“This is usually 1 wherever I’m definite that helium [Draper] has had a deliberation astir it and possibly helium wouldn’t bash it again, I’m not sure,” helium said.

Injured midfielder Bailey Smith is 1 subordinate heavy linked to a determination to different club.

Smith, who will miss the full 2024 campaign and is off-contract astatine season’s end, has been completing immoderate of his rehabilitation distant from Whitten Oval.

“The bully happening is Bailey is backmost moving connected the writer present … feeling beauteous bully astir himself ... and that volition assistance with his bid of caput and feeling truly affirmative astir his return,” Beveridge said.

“His interaction hours person gone close up present that he’s backmost doing a batch more.

The manager said guardant Jamarra Ugle-Hagan “should” beryllium close to look Hawthorn astatine Marvel Stadium aft helium missed the past 2 games owed to idiosyncratic reasons.

“He wasn’t excessively acold distant from being capable to play past week, but connected specified an interrupted preparation, it’s a amended thought for him to person different week disconnected and get immoderate momentum,” Beveridge said.

Star midfielder Tom Liberatore volition astir surely beryllium backmost to look the Hawks aft missing past week’s decision to Fremantle owed to unwellness passed connected by his son.

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