‘Statesman’ not always right, says Bevo

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the AFL “flinched” last week and should not have responded to Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson’s criticisms.

A post-match rant from Clarkson after his team defeated North Melbourne in Round 4 promoted a league crackdown on holding the ball from all umpires.

Beveridge (right) said the Hawks coach was within his rights as a “statesman” of the game to voice his opinion.

But the Bulldogs premiership coach said he was not always right.

“Clarko has got every right as a statesman of the game to have his opinion and put that across. But it’s up to the powers at the AFL to work out whether or not they flinch, and they flinched. We need to be better,” Beveridge said.

“Imagine the challenge for the umpires and the players that within a week we have a change or an adjustment.

“We do it too often and it’s not acceptable.

“Clarko is a very influential figure in the game … he has shaped the game in many ways.

“But whether or not he’s right all the time, that’s the decision at AFL House.

“We need to make sure we are measured in our thought processes and we make good decisions for the game and everyone involved in it.”