Coach Future of the club (Bevo, board, assistant coaches, football department)

[MaxiBont]

And they are the same people who did a review 12 months ago a decided we needed to start another 6 months later.

FMD

 

[Brassrazoo]

This guy should be our bigfooty mascot for 2024.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

I was fortunate to have a prior draft of the clubs email leaked to me by my sauce within the club.

Please dont ask who it was.

Ok, if you insist.

It was Bevo.

Ive added the edits to Brents post for convenience.

Letter from the President just emailed to members

To our Bulldogs members,

We know you're super pissed off so sit back and read on as I try to polish a turd.

As the dust settles on our 2023 AFL season, there’s no question we all have a sense of shared disappointment. You, our members, are incredibly passionate and rightly hold us to account. We don’t take this responsibility lightly.

We've received a tonne of not so encouraging feedback through our socials, the telephone, letters. None of which have ben complimentary.

Now please stop sending us your solutions re: List management, coaching appointments, game day tactics and thoughts on the menu at Barkers.

We all expected to qualify for our fifth straight AFL finals series, and for a long period of the season, it looked like we would achieve that. The footy Gods delivered for us on Saturday when our team broke the 20-year drought with a win in Geelong, but as Sunday came around, it wasn’t to be.

It was nice to get that 300kg Gorilla off our back. But we knew it was likely to be for naught given we'd just lost to two of the bottom three sides in consecutive weeks.

It was a disappointing end to a season that held so much potential, and we take responsibility for the result.

But what are you gonna do about it. You're a lifer.

As we look back on our year, ultimately it was inconsistency and missed opportunities that took their toll.

So we'll describe it in the most anodyne way possible.

We know this is a game of small margins, and in the end we didn’t take enough of those chances when they presented themselves, despite putting ourselves in strong positions to win several close games.

Which we proceeded to squib at every opportunity presented to us.

The reality is, we didn’t meet our own expectations, or those of our members and fans.

Having just endured the past season. We thought you'd get a kick out of us explaining what football reality means.

Aren't we funny bastards?

However, despite the obvious disappointment, we saw some promising signs for our future.

Marcus Bontempelli led us with absolute distinction, Tim English emerged as the competition’s best ruckman, Tom Liberatore went to an even higher level, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan announced himself as a future star.

In spite of their teammates awfulness.

Arthur Jones, James O’Donnell and Caleb Poulter made telling cameos as first year players, Liam Jones returned as a defensive rock, and we have the untapped ability of Sam Darcy to look forward to.

Straws. Straws look at these straws that we're clutching.

So, where to from here?

We're off for long hard look in the mirror. Nah, just kidding we're doing another review of ourselves!

In this business, there’s no time to dwell on the past, or sit still. We must move on quickly, evaluate comprehensively, and put robust plans in place to improve.

So we're about to embark on another half arsed review of the football department, slaughter a few sacrificial lambs. And then go down to the beach house for the summer.

Identifying improvements and making the necessary changes is key to our future success. That process started as the season was still running, and we ramped up the day after our season concluded.

During the season, we identified a need to analyse areas of our football program which we felt needed adjustments, to give our players the best chance to succeed. It means that there will be change in the off season. Our Board member Luke Darcy, Executive Director of Football Chris Grant, along with Ameet Bains and myself, will lead the difficult, but necessary changes.

We've always found that in house reviews by the people responsible for the mess we find ourselves is the best form of completely transparent corporate governance.

There has been plenty of external talk about Luke Beveridge recently. As we’ve said publicly on numerous occasions, Bevo is contracted for the next two seasons, and we remain confident in his ability to lead this team. He has a strong track record of getting the best out of our playing group, managing a high performing team, and achieving success.

Its not like we have a choice given we are the ones responsible for his contract extension. It's not like we can dig behind the couch and fins the $million needed to correct our mistake.

We have a deeply connected playing group - connected to both each other and their coach. I have the privilege of witnessing this personally.

But you'll take my word for it.

The team has high expectations of themselves, and we are encouraged by their desire to lean in and provide feedback on how we need to improve. Sharing the responsibility of our performances with each other, the coaching group and the broader club. We are emboldened by their desire to turn our performance around quickly.

With the strength of leadership we have within our club, and the detailed understanding of our people and processes, we are confident we can make the adjustments that we require.

The Captain approached us with his concerned and we've committed to having a review. See above.

Bulldogs people are resilient, and we stick together in good times and bad. We’ve been doing so for over 140 years.

Please don't leave. I love you. I'll die without you.

As we look ahead, we turn our attention to our VFL and AFLW teams.

Whilst you turn your attention to watching your friends enjoy this years finals.

Our VFL team won 10 straight games on its way to qualifying in sixth position on the ladder – a brilliant achievement. Footscray will take on the Casey Demons this Saturday, with 18 Bulldogs-listed players eligible to take the field.

Look over there! Isn't that nice?

A few hours later, our AFLW team kicks off its 2023 season against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. After having tasted finals action in Season 7, we’re excited to see what our girls can achieve in the next few months.

In the second half of the women’s season, we look forward to welcoming you back to watch footy at VU Whitten Oval, which will be an exciting milestone for our club.

When our AFL players return to start their preparations for the 2024 season, they’ll come back to a transformed facility which will be the envy of the competition.

It will be a symbolic and energising new beginning for players and staff, as we start our climb back up the ladder.

Its really not an indication that the powers that be have had their eye off the ball as they oversea the building of shiny new bauble.

As the AFL season ends, on behalf of the Club I’d like to thank our record 56,000 members for your ongoing support. You turned up to Marvel Stadium and Mars Stadium in massive numbers.

No-one at the Club, including the players, take your support for granted.

Unless you want to contact us directly.

Then **** you plebe.

Thank you for being Bulldogs.

We know you aren't going anywhere.

Please make sure that the credit card details we have on file are correct and up to date,

See youse next year!

Much love.

Kyles.

 

[Dogs 13]

"Same as it ever was." - Talking Heads/Brian Eno

Ultimately, most music lyrics are about footy. I think.

Ah, like Smack my bitch up

 

[Dogs 13]

I am glad we are not a basket case club that turfs coaches out when things get tough but next year should be his last chance to change things.

Even then I don’t think they have the whole of next season to show we’re back on track.
There should be calls for action earlier if the same trends and crap are served up.

 

[Charlie Bucket]

This guy should be our bigfooty mascot for 2024.

Needs to finish his DV and attempted kidnapping sentence first.

Not the type of person you want supporting your Coach Out cause.

 

[Philthy1]

Letter from the President just emailed to members

To our Bulldogs members,

As the dust settles on our 2023 AFL season, there’s no question we all have a sense of shared disappointment. You, our members, are incredibly passionate and rightly hold us to account. We don’t take this responsibility lightly.

We all expected to qualify for our fifth straight AFL finals series, and for a long period of the season, it looked like we would achieve that. The footy Gods delivered for us on Saturday when our team broke the 20-year drought with a win in Geelong, but as Sunday came around, it wasn’t to be.

It was a disappointing end to a season that held so much potential, and we take responsibility for the result.

As we look back on our year, ultimately it was inconsistency and missed opportunities that took their toll.

We know this is a game of small margins, and in the end we didn’t take enough of those chances when they presented themselves, despite putting ourselves in strong positions to win several close games.

The reality is, we didn’t meet our own expectations, or those of our members and fans.

However, despite the obvious disappointment, we saw some promising signs for our future.

Marcus Bontempelli led us with absolute distinction, Tim English emerged as the competition’s best ruckman, Tom Liberatore went to an even higher level, and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan announced himself as a future star.

Arthur Jones, James O’Donnell and Caleb Poulter made telling cameos as first year players, Liam Jones returned as a defensive rock, and we have the untapped ability of Sam Darcy to look forward to.

So, where to from here?

In this business, there’s no time to dwell on the past, or sit still. We must move on quickly, evaluate comprehensively, and put robust plans in place to improve.

Identifying improvements and making the necessary changes is key to our future success. That process started as the season was still running, and we ramped up the day after our season concluded.

During the season, we identified a need to analyse areas of our football program which we felt needed adjustments, to give our players the best chance to succeed. It means that there will be change in the off season. Our Board member Luke Darcy, Executive Director of Football Chris Grant, along with Ameet Bains and myself, will lead the difficult, but necessary changes.

There has been plenty of external talk about Luke Beveridge recently. As we’ve said publicly on numerous occasions, Bevo is contracted for the next two seasons, and we remain confident in his ability to lead this team. He has a strong track record of getting the best out of our playing group, managing a high performing team, and achieving success.

We have a deeply connected playing group - connected to both each other and their coach. I have the privilege of witnessing this personally.

The team has high expectations of themselves, and we are encouraged by their desire to lean in and provide feedback on how we need to improve. Sharing the responsibility of our performances with each other, the coaching group and the broader club. We are emboldened by their desire to turn our performance around quickly.

With the strength of leadership we have within our club, and the detailed understanding of our people and processes, we are confident we can make the adjustments that we require.

Bulldogs people are resilient, and we stick together in good times and bad. We’ve been doing so for over 140 years.

As we look ahead, we turn our attention to our VFL and AFLW teams.

Our VFL team won 10 straight games on its way to qualifying in sixth position on the ladder – a brilliant achievement. Footscray will take on the Casey Demons this Saturday, with 18 Bulldogs-listed players eligible to take the field.

A few hours later, our AFLW team kicks off its 2023 season against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium. After having tasted finals action in Season 7, we’re excited to see what our girls can achieve in the next few months.

In the second half of the women’s season, we look forward to welcoming you back to watch footy at VU Whitten Oval, which will be an exciting milestone for our club.

When our AFL players return to start their preparations for the 2024 season, they’ll come back to a transformed facility which will be the envy of the competition.

It will be a symbolic and energising new beginning for players and staff, as we start our climb back up the ladder.

As the AFL season ends, on behalf of the Club I’d like to thank our record 56,000 members for your ongoing support. You turned up to Marvel Stadium and Mars Stadium in massive numbers.

No-one at the Club, including the players, take your support for granted.

Thank you for being Bulldogs.

Apparently on an early draft there was a PS line that went something like this:

PS: and to all our beloved campaigners on Bigfooty, JSTFU….

 

[lachy]

Biggest issue now it is likely Bev is staying with proper support, which of the 72 Bev out or Bev has gone, or Bev should go threads will be the one carried forward for Bev out in 2024??

 

[Maverick Dog]

AFL made the right decision turning their back on KWW for Gil’s job. That would have been a catastrophe for the AFL. She does not have the skill set to run a little league club Let alone the AFL.

 

[MaxiBont]

Biggest issue now it is likely Bev is staying with proper support, which of the 72 Bev out or Bev has gone, or Bev should go threads will be the one carried forward for Bev out in 2024?

Proper support ffs. He’s the coach of an AFL team not an abandoned child. A good head coach shouldn’t need expensive assistant coaches to look competent.

 

[SackofTaters]

Reading that pre-packaged, paint by numbers drivel made me look into how I can cancel my Auto Renew of my membership.

What a steaming pile of nothing..

And I'm always a glass half full guy, but that tripe left me feeling just " meh "

 

[doggies ftw]

I believe these may be the emails we want gents:

ameet.bains@westernbulldogs.com.au
kylie.watson-wheeler@westernbulldogs.com.au

I suggest as many people as possible write an email suggesting that the response from the club is not good enough and demand change - in an appropriate tone of course.

Won’t do **** all but the more the merrier, they need to at least hear it

 

[Mojorisin]

I believe these may be the emails we want gents:

ameet.bains@westernbulldogs.com.au
kylie.watson-wheeler@westernbulldogs.com.au

I suggest as many people as possible write an email suggesting that the response from the club is not good enough and demand change - in an appropriate tone of course.

Won’t do * all but the more the merrier, they need to at least hear it

Will shoot Ameet an email tomorrow.

 

[jdz101]

Grant, Beveridge, and Bains all still there next year isn't the hellfire and brimstone the fans deserve after that abomination of a season.

 

[Philthy1]

I believe these may be the emails we want gents:

ameet.bains@westernbulldogs.com.au
kylie.watson-wheeler@westernbulldogs.com.au

I suggest as many people as possible write an email suggesting that the response from the club is not good enough and demand change - in an appropriate tone of course.

Won’t do * all but the more the merrier, they need to at least hear it

If you really want change, the time to do it is at the AGM.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Ah, like Smack my bitch up

One of the all times music videos

 

[BallaratBulldog]

Stewart Dew???
Woeful record as a senior coach. A leader of athletes who clearly doesn't look after his own health.
I give up.

Do the dew.

 

[Generation West]

I, along with most on here, wanted Bevo to walk away with a bit of dignity, but that does not look like it will happen.

Whilst disappointed, I feel like the club are finally listening and taking action.

The club admin made the mistake of re signing Bevo last year and they have to own it, but I get the feeling they’ve said enough is enough.

Bevo looks worn out to me, but the hunger obviously still burns and rightly or wrongly he has the self belief that he is the best man to lead the club.
Importantly, the players seem united behind the coach.

We need to get our list management right by pruning some dead wood and using our strong 2023 draft hand wisely.

Our strength and conditioning program needs an overhaul - I am convinced we are not fit enough.

Finally, we need some quality assistants around Bevo, so Dew, Mick Barlow, Josh Bruce

17

Josh Bruce

Age

33

Ht

198cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

4.6

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

2.1

4star

MG

90.4

1star

D

8.9

2star

K

3.5

1star

HB

5.4

3star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.3

2star

MG

90.4

2star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

5.6

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

0.8

3star

to replace Smith, Spangher, Webb would be a good start. Bevo has gotta wise up and change his approach - he is tactically inept come game day, so needs to relinquish this task to Dew.

We can turn it around quickly if the coach parks his ego and the players embrace a brutal pre season.

 

[jdz101]

Come on mate. He was rated as one of the top few assistant coaches in the league at Sydney before his got his gig as GC coach. The fact he has been a senior coach (albeit, an ultimately unsuccessful one) speaks very well about his coaching ability alone.

Don't be a keyboard warrior for the sake of it.

Also was handed a poison chalice and a disaster of a football club.

 

[ossie_21]

We can turn it around quickly if the coach parks his ego and the players embrace a brutal pre season.

With our fitness team also being (apparently) moved on, hopefully it’s a lot more running on the agenda. Too often we are visibly outran by our opponents in speed, distance, repeat efforts etc.

We got shamed by the Eagles, who were torn to shreds throughout the season for being too unfit. Too often watching games I don’t see enough running in general from our players in chasing, leading and most importantly, working off the ball to drag an opponent away knowing full well you aren’t actually going to get the ball, just doing the team thing.

 

[Zgope1]

Great to see the letter from Kylie. There’s lots to fix but reason to believe the coach has what it takes.

I do worry this list just isn’t good enough. List managers going to have to work miracles over the next two off seasons for this not to be a cliff situation

 

[Piggyg]

Hey Fred, that reminds me did you hear about the fisherman who couldn't read he was lost at C.

You guys love telling dad jokes.

I bet sometimes he even laughs.

 

[Piggyg]

"Same as it ever was." - Talking Heads/Brian Eno

Ultimately, most music lyrics are about footy. I think.

Great song

 

[Piggyg]

gj79 is Bob Murphy, confirmed.

Bob Murphy was more of a 90s alternative rock guy. Loved his You Am I.

 

[Dogs 13]

Great to see the letter from Kylie. There’s lots to fix but reason to believe the coach has what it takes.

I do worry this list just isn’t good enough. List managers going to have to work miracles over the next two off seasons for this not to be a cliff situation

It was another box ticked off on her to do list for the end of season. Every President will do the same thing to round off the season.