Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has opened up on a traumatic week the club endured in the lead-up to its loss to Adelaide.
Following the Bulldogs’ one-point loss, Beveridge revealed that veteran forward Mitch Wallis’ mother-in-law had died on Thursday after being hit by a car on the previous weekend.
Wallis’ mother-in-law’s tragic death came after development coach Travis Varcoe‘s mother had also died last weekend.
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“It has been a challenging week for the group, for the club,” Beveridge said after the match.
“It has been a really traumatic week for the families, and obviously your football club is like a second home, a second family, and everyone feels that and is really emotional around what is happening with Mitch and (Wallis’ wife) Emily and their families.
“We are just hoping everything goes smoothly over the next week or so with Emily and the imminent birth of their child.”
The sudden deaths surrounding the club came as former vice-captain Lachie Hunter was also granted an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons.
The Bulldogs will aim to get back on the winners’ list next week when they face a struggling Essendon team at Marvel Stadium.