Western Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge has officially penned a two-year extension, taking his contract to the end of the 2027 season.
The announcement ends the uncertainty surrounding Beveridge's future at the club and will see him claim the second-longest tenure amongst current AFL coaches once Ken Hinkley departs Port Adelaide at the end of the season. Bulldogs players were made known of the news at Whitten Oval on Tuesday.
โIt is the right time to thank the playing group and our staff for their commitment to growth and their willingness to explore their best and discover the possibilities outside of their comfort zone," Beveridge said.
"I appreciate the ongoing collaboration and support Kylie Watson-Wheeler, Luke Darcy and Ameet Bains provided as we sought to establish stability and a meaningful strategic foothold that will set us up for our next successful period."
The Bulldogs' 6-6 record has them sitting one win outside the top eight, despite suffering a heavy injury toll throughout the year. This record has seen the Bulldogs reaffirm their confidence in Beveridge to lead the playing group.
โThe extension of Luke's contract as senior coach is demonstrative of the trust, connection and partnership we have with him. Luke is a once-in-a-generation coach at our Club. His commitment to the Bulldogs is unwavering,โ Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler said.
โThe considered process we have undertaken has resulted in the unanimous endorsement of the board and the unified belief that he is the best person to drive sustained success at the Bulldogs.
โAs the game evolves, Luke continues to deliver a cutting-edge brand of footy and finds new ways to challenge and motivate our exciting playing group. We're optimistic about the future under his continued leadership.โ
Beveridge faced scrutiny entering the 2025 season for omitting key players during 2024, which played a factor in the departures of Jack Macrae and Caleb Daniel during the trade period. However, his tactics have provided the Bulldogs with a strong foothold to chase September action for the eighth time in his 11-year tenure.
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains was glad an extension could be agreed upon and believed the certainty it provides will be valuable for the playing group in the back half of the campaign.
โThis extension, the result of a considered and communicative process, means our men's footy program can progress with confidence and stability as we look forward to the second half of this season and beyond,โ Bains said.
The Bulldogs will look to continue the Beveridge era with a win over St Kilda in their Thursday night showdown at Marvel Stadium this week.
