Beveridge plots revolutionary road for Bulldogs
Luke Beveridge has challenged his players to become revolutionaries in the Western Bulldogs’ quest for sustained success to become the benchmark club in the AFL.
Urging his players to draw on the spirit of historical figures ranging from Marxist heroes Che Guevara and Rosa Luxemburg to Mahatma Gandhi and Indigenous humanitarian Shirley Coleen Smith, Beveridge called on his players to take the Bulldogs to the top, on and off the field.
In one of the more unusual speeches given by a coach at a season launch, Beveridge referenced some of the world’s greatest problems such as the recovery effort from COVID, climate change and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Inspired: Luke Beveridge. Credit:Getty Images
Under Beveridge, the Bulldogs have broken a 62-year premiership drought and made a grand final but they have not been consistent challengers. He says now is the time for that to change.
“Che Guevara in his Motorcycle Diaries says to be a revolutionist you firstly need a revolution. He’s right of course but someone or some group needs to start the revolution,” Beveridge said on Monday night.
“On a more football-centric scale our Bulldogs revolutionary intent is to establish ourselves as a benchmark of the competition over a sustained period of time and through this generating a groundswell of support that challenges the highest memberships in the competition, broadcasters of the game and nurtures partnerships with existing and potential people and entities.”
The Bulldogs reached 40,000 members on the weekend and say they are on track to break through the 50,000 mark for the first time in their history.
They will open the season in a blockbuster clash with Melbourne, who knocked them over in the last quarter of last year’s grand final.
After the 2016 premiership success, the Dogs missed the finals in the following two seasons and did not win a final for five years.
“At times we’ve been on our way in our revolutionary journey as an outfit but we haven’t been able to sustain it,” Beveridge said.
“The choice is to take the responsibility to hunt down this sustainable success – that is what we’re confronted with.
“In these times where we’re processing the inherent effects of COVID, its uncertain legacy and the future, the uncertainty about the environment, the carbon footprint worldwide and now the atrocity of the Russian advancement on Ukraine there are questions we ask of ourselves.
“What kind of person am I? And what would I do if I could influence some of these significant events that will threaten our futures?
“I can say that I have great confidence in the fact we have exceptional people who are searching for their own personal power and their own capacity to firstly make the choice and take up the challenge for our club and secondly to be someone we can rely on to be first-class citizens and influence society in the way our community foundation does.
“On field and off field we Bulldogs people are conscientious citizens in good company. We are fortunate to work with each other and privileged to work with our members. We can’t wait to see you all at the footy.”
Dogs chief Ameet Bains paid tribute to players and staff for their resilience last year to reach the grand final despite the struggles presented by the pandemic.
“I think the hunger’s there,” Bains said. “To have done what the team did up until the final 30 minutes of that season was astounding in the circumstances and should give us all enormous confidence to what they’re capable of doing this year with a clear run and hopefully fewer injuries.”
Premiership captain Easton Wood and retired Bulldog Lin Jong were presented with life membership of the club.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article