Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has released a statement about his explosive press conference rant last night.
Beveridge lambasted Fox Sports journalist Tom Morris after the Bulldogs lost to the Demons in the AFL season opener at the MCG.
The coach took exception to the way Morris had reported on a team story earlier in the week. When the journalist arrived at the press conference after the game, Beveridge took both barrels to Morris.
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This afternoon the Bulldogs released a statement from their coach.
“I have reflected on my comments and actions from the post-game press conference after last night’s game and acknowledge that my exchange with journalist Tom Morris overstepped the mark,” Beveridge said.
“I want to apologise for my behaviour. I want to apologise to Tom Morris and all those present last night and to our members, supporters, partners and the wider football community.
“We have strong values at the Bulldogs that we all sign up to. They are values that I believe in and support and live. My actions last night were not consistent with those values or the way we go about business as a football club, or I go about life as an individual.
“I recognised that what I did was not OK. It was not representative of our club culture which is so special and means so much to me. While I was highly emotional in the moments after a difficult loss, it is no excuse to let those emotions spill over and get the better of me.
“As people would know, I am extremely passionate about, and protective of, our players and our people, and I always have their welfare and their best interests at heart. I pride myself on being measured and thoughtful, however on this occasion I clearly didn’t handle it the way I should have, and I understand and accept that.
“The last thing I want is for my actions to reflect negatively on the Western Bulldogs Football Club and our culture. As I’ve said many times, I want our members and supporters to be proud of their club on and off the field and to be proud of the way we conduct ourselves at all times, and I’ll continue to strive for that.
“I take accountability for my actions. We will work through that as a club and I will focus on getting the best out of the team for the remainder of the season, and my energies will be centred on preparing our players for our next game against Carlton.”
The Bulldogs have agreed to donate $20,000 to charity.
“Luke is a man of strong integrity who leads with heart and soul, caring deeply for everyone at the Western Bulldogs,” club president Kylie Watson-Wheeler said.
“His passion crossed a line last night and he is aware of that. As a club, we commit to a thorough process of internal assessment to ensure better outcomes in the future.”
The AFL endorsed the $20,000 donation to charity, although the governing body has not punished Beveridge in any way.
“A press conference environment, regardless of the emotion that football can evoke, should always be a professional environment where all participants engage in a respectful manner – this clearly wasn’t acceptable or appropriate conduct last night,” the AFL said in a statement.
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