Ross Lyon has put pressure on Western Bulldogs football boss, Chris Grant, to help under-fire coach Luke Beveridge after a tumultuous start to the season.
Questions have been asked about Beveridge’s support staff at the Bulldogs after he snapped at a reporter following his side’s round one loss, with leading AFL reporter Caroline Wilson revealing the club had “serious concern” over whether the 51-year-old had enough help around him in the wake of the incident.
Lyon, who has previously coached at two AFL clubs, said the club’s head of football, Grant, needed to do more to support Beveridge.
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“Chris Grant can’t be MIA, he’s got to do some heavy lifting,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“He’s the head of football. When (Neil) Balme was at Richmond, they alleviated the pressure on the coach and the CEO.
“As the head of football, you’ve got to step up a bit and carry some of the heat and take the pressure off Luke and let him coach.”
Despite his criticism of Grant, Lyon also put the onus on Beveridge himself to relinquish some of his day-to-day roles at the Bulldogs.
“He joined when they were in disarray and their captain (Ryan Griffen) wanted to leave,” he said.
“He single-handedly, with strong administration, got the dynamic strong and got pride back at that club and delivered. He carries that with him still.
“I think it’s time to release some of the reins and just focus on what you’re great at: coaching. Maybe do less media, let your assistants do a little more.”