Coach Luke Beveridge and his on-field coaching.

[Norm De Guerre]

The other thread seems to be constantly fighting yesterday's wars when it comes to everything Luke Beveridge.

And is probably one best served discussing its original intent. Club wide off field football dpt and admin news.

In my view what we need is a catch all thread where you can expand on your ideas of what's good, bad or otherwise about our match day coaching.

Do try and stay on target. Griping about the contract extension is a waste of energy now. Especially when there much to gripe about with how this team is set up and goes about it. When things don't go its way.

Have at it.

 

[grassman75]

Sack Bevo….sorry Norm….lol

I think we should go after Gia and Cameron

And move Naughton back

And FFS play Buss


There I got it all out pin this to the top - now if I’ve missed anything that’s been regurgitated over and over again

Let’s have a nice new thread

 

[MaxiBont]

I think the game-plan is solid in theory but the problem is when a team gets on top we do nothing to change it.

It works well against some teams but completely falls apart against teams who are clean by foot and can punish our turnovers.

I’d like us to have a spare behind the ball when we’re losing some momentum. We see so often a turnover which results in an easy goal out the back.

Bevo obviously is a good coach and has the players support but feels like we are a bit too static when we can’t dominate in the middle.

 

[TiAn_]

This thread is a better fit for my earlier post:

Our whole strategy is geared around winning the clearance battle and then keeping the ball in contests in our forward half until we generate a score (it’s largely how we won the flag in 2016).

It’s a total highwire act against good sides. We get absolutely torched by turnovers because the other team has a paddock for the quality players to kick and lead into when we give them possession back. We can see this reflected in a few stats: We have the lowest average in the league for defensive half pressure acts, we have by far the worst opponent kick retention rating of the top 12 sides, we are second lowest for spoils and have the worst 1v1 defensive loss % of all teams. Meanwhile our opponents have the league highest defensive half pressure acts. We are constantly operating in contests and under pressure in our forward half while our opponents aren’t. Our opponents are only 0.01 xScore per shot behind the Eagles and Dees for highest in the competition. Meaning we give up just about the easiest shots at goal of anyone.

Every time we’ve at least broken even on turnovers we’ve won, while we’ve lost to 7 of the top 8 when having more turnovers and conceding more scores from turnovers (Pies, Cats, Hawks, Lions, Crows, Suns and Dockers). If we turn the ball over anywhere outside our 50 it’s almost a guaranteed I50 the other way and our defence is horribly exposed. Hence the near worst score per shot.

We’ve only scored more from turnovers against one top 8 side and that was the Giants. And that was our only win against a top 8 side. We absolutely monster crap sides, which skews our overall stats, but routinely come up short the same way against the good sides (Hawks excepted, who smashed us with forward half footy).

The issues with our forward line having no space and back line having to defend acres of it are both products of this. If we defended further back we wouldn’t retain as much ball in our forward half, but we also wouldn’t get exposed so badly when we do turn it over. What we do is great if the goal is merely to beat up on everyone below us that doesn’t have the ability to pressure us into turnovers and capitalise on the opportunities we do afford them, while losing to every good team that does.

Source for the above stats: Wheelo

 

[geoffjennings79]

It is a fallacy that Beveridge does not make adjustments during games, we have seen him tweak tactics in games this year. However yesterday he had few options, particularly with countering Crows tall forwards. Lobb and JOD as discussed in the autopsy thread are predominantly interceptors. Lobb has gone 1v1 with limited success, but the precise delivery and Thilthorpe's physical strength negated Lobb's reach and dexterity. Walker and Fogarty were too wily, and also at times too physical for JOD and Coffield. Pushing Naughton back would have robbed us of our best forward yesterday, and again Naughton is not a 1v1 defender. It would have also left Darcy with no tall support.

So team selection played a part, but LJones was not ready to return, leaving Khamis (undersized and better forward), Gardner or Busslinger as options.

Then there's the midfield, and how they set up. Crows blitzed us at our own game, with faster hands, better movement around and within stoppages. Curiously, we didn't use Kennedy in CBAs (assuming illness, but then why did he play?). Garcia showed he's a better mid than small forward, but doesn't have the pace to go with the Crows mids. Liber struggled, Bont and Richards played well, but can't carry the entire midfield for 100mins.

Hynes and Dolan are the future, but the physicality was beyond them at this stage. Possibly could have rolled West through the middle for his physicality, but a Rankine or whoever would burn him for pace, as he did to our better mids.

Maybe we could have structured more defensively at CBAs, but then we concede a degree of our own offensive ability.

The speed with which their mids moved opened up their forward line, their forwards spread well - how many uncontested marks on the lead or in space did they have. The inevitability of their movement past the centre and wings that they would score, while our mids chased tail and defenders looked resigned and caught out with the ball movement seemed beyond both our coaches and players to counter.

Tbh, given the personnel limitations, I'll be curious to see selection and tactical changes for next week. At least Brions don't have 3 key forwards...

 

[BEaston]

I'm not sure how the opinions on bf are that he can go from coaching the best he's ever coached earlier in the season to now being terrible.

 

[BEaston]

What's changed?

 

[TiAn_]

I'm not sure how the opinions on bf are that he can go from coaching the best he's ever coached earlier in the season to now being terrible.

I’m not sure there’d be many in either of those camps, let alone in both of them.

 

[Optimistic Dog]

One our biggest problems is our bottom six or seven. A full availability it maybe bottom 3 or 4 with Cody, JUH and Adz all available for selection, however you rarely get full team squad. Then blooding the likes of Hynes and Dolan is not a big problem.

However, when you are swapping the likes of Poulter, Baker, McNeill, Cleary, Coffield, Garcia, Arty, Gardner, Harmes then you add Hynes and Dolan we are in trouble. For example look at the ions this week there bottom 6 are so much better than ours,

So, to win our better players need to be a fair bit better than their better players.

 

[Mucat]

It is a fallacy that Beveridge does not make adjustments during games, we have seen him tweak tactics in games this year. However yesterday he had few options, particularly with countering Crows tall forwards. Lobb and JOD as discussed in the autopsy thread are predominantly interceptors. Lobb has gone 1v1 with limited success, but the precise delivery and Thilthorpe's physical strength negated Lobb's reach and dexterity. Walker and Fogarty were too wily, and also at times too physical for JOD and Coffield. Pushing Naughton back would have robbed us of our best forward yesterday, and again Naughton is not a 1v1 defender. It would have also left Darcy with no tall support.

So team selection played a part, but LJones was not ready to return, leaving Khamis (undersized and better forward), Gardner or Busslinger as options.

Then there's the midfield, and how they set up. Crows blitzed us at our own game, with faster hands, better movement around and within stoppages. Curiously, we didn't use Kennedy in CBAs (assuming illness, but then why did he play?). Garcia showed he's a better mid than small forward, but doesn't have the pace to go with the Crows mids. Liber struggled, Bont and Richards played well, but can't carry the entire midfield for 100mins.

Hynes and Dolan are the future, but the physicality was beyond them at this stage. Possibly could have rolled West through the middle for his physicality, but a Rankine or whoever would burn him for pace, as he did to our better mids.

Maybe we could have structured more defensively at CBAs, but then we concede a degree of our own offensive ability.

The speed with which their mids moved opened up their forward line, their forwards spread well - how many uncontested marks on the lead or in space did they have. The inevitability of their movement past the centre and wings that they would score, while our mids chased tail and defenders looked resigned and caught out with the ball movement seemed beyond both our coaches and players to counter.

Tbh, given the personnel limitations, I'll be curious to see selection and tactical changes for next week. At least Brions don't have 3 key forwards...

Your spot on there mate

 

[Mucat]

I'm not sure how the opinions on bf are that he can go from coaching the best he's ever coached earlier in the season to now being terrible.

I'm sorry to say but when they were talking about a new contract things were the same but now since bevo re- signed he can do what he likes again

 

[grassman75]

Your spot on there mate

But they have triple Majak Daw Medallist Eric Hipwood

 

[BEaston]

I'm sorry to say but when they were talking about a new contract things were the same but now since bevo re- signed he can do what he likes again

So what has changed?

 

[BEaston]

I’m not sure there’d be many in either of those camps, let alone in both of them.

I'm sure.

 

[Pep_x]

What have we actually done to mitigate our extremely weak defence?
Its been obvious since at least the night down at Geelong that our inability to defend would be our undoing, what coaching moves, strategies, changes have we tried to help us in that area. On the face of it, it feels a bit 1 dimensional or maybe stubborn to just have stuck to plan A with minimal changes.
The last few weeks have felt like a slow motion car crash in the making.
Very disappointing.

 

[TheScriptorWL]

The offensive opportunities and freedom our current game plan provides, when we win the ball our way, cannot just be abandoned overnight.
Since 2015, this style of play has been the status quo at the club. It’s the system under which an entire generation of Bulldogs talent has developed. Any drastic change in game plan, without significant adjustments to the team to support it, will send us plummeting down the ladder.
All we need to figure out is how to get the best of both worlds. Ideally, Bevo's style can still work wonders. if we, trade in a supreme contested ball winner down back, bring in a speedy midfielder to support Red, and drop a few players back to create pressure from imminent turnovers.

 

[Mucat]

So what has changed?

Ok first when there were talks about the contract negotiation's were in talk he was still unsure about his future at the club so at that point in time bevo was still coaching really good bringing in in form players players returning from injure and we were playing footy untill he got the contract re- signed and that's where things changed again one minute we're only % from top four now we are out the eight this is because of bad selection and that is why things have changed unfortunately

 

[Proffessor]

How do people think other contenders, e.g. The Crows, would be fairing this season if they were missing key senior players the calibre of Ugle-Hagen, Weightman, Treloar and Jones for the bulk of the season? Not to mention the steady flow of other injuries to other players making it difficult to field a settled side?

How many of those other clubs would have met such challenges front on and still be in the hunt? I would suggest most would have thrown in the towel and started focusing on 2026.

Not us, we are still battling away trying to find a solution for the 2025 season and continuing to face whatever other challenges it chooses to throw our way.

And I love it!

Bevo, his players and the whole club should be proud of how they have been conducting themselves.

It isn't over yet.

 

[BEaston]

Ok first when there were talks about the contract negotiation's were in talk he was still unsure about his future at the club so at that point in time bevo was still coaching really good bringing in in form players players returning from injure and we were playing footy untill he got the contract re- signed and that's where things changed again one minute we're only % from top four now we are out the eight this is because of bad selection and that is why things have changed unfortunately

So what's changed with his coaching?

 

[grassman75]

How do people think other contenders, e.g. The Crows, would be fairing this season if they were missing key senior players the calibre of Ugle-Hagen, Weightman, Treloar and Jones for the bulk of the season? Not to mention the steady flow of other injuries to other players making it difficult to field a settled side?

How many of those other clubs would have met such challenges front on and still be in the hunt? I would suggest most would have thrown in the towel and started focusing on 2026.

Not us, we are still battling away trying to find a solution for the 2025 season and continuing to face whatever other challenges it chooses to throw our way.

And I love it!

Bevo, his players and the whole club should be proud of how they have been conducting themselves.

It isn't over yet.

You left off Bont for 6 weeks, Darcy for at least 6 weeks…..they are possibly our two best players.

I’d argue we beat the Pies and Lions with Bont and would be sitting in the top 4

 

[The Inbetweener]

You left off Bont for 6 weeks, Darcy for at least 6 weeks…..they are possibly our two best players.

I’d argue we beat the Pies and Lions with Bont and would be sitting in the top 4

But we didn’t though. Then had a chance to beat the Hawks and Crows with both those guys in and blew it.

 

[W W Biscuit]

Any team can play the 'coulda, shoulda' game. But, over time, the more pertinent question may need to be 'didya?' We have a body of work this season that suggests that, defensively, we are nowhere near it. Good efforts 'n all, but I just can't get the sound of Plough Wallace quietly spewing up in the background out of my head.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

So what's changed with his coaching?

Mate, it would be great if you could contribute more than asking the same question five times. You obviously have an axe to grind. Whip it out and grind away.

 

[BEaston]

Mate, it would be great if you could contribute more than asking the same question five times. You obviously have an axe to grind. Whip it out and grind away.

Well nobody has answered it yet and I've only got non-sequiturs back.

Go back to May in the other thread and there are plenty examples of praise - even people admitting they were previously wrong on Bevo wanting him gone, etc.

So what's changed with his coaching since then? As now the feeling is most want him gone again.
It's possible something has. It seemed like something did mid last year. If something has changed again, fair enough - what is it? I don't know.

 

[adogsfan5]

We play our numbers too high up the ground and we continue to be exposed after a turnover. It also clogs up our forward half. It’s a very strange tactic given we have enough talent in the fwd line as it is, we don’t have the best skills and we aren’t overly quick.

How can we not adjust this on the fly given it’s not working?