Criticism not fair

Bains back Bevo moves

Western Bulldogs boss Ameet Bains has hit out at media criticism of coach Luke Beveridge as “over the top” as he declared his coach safe until the end of 2025.

As the Dogs got back to an even win-loss record after six games, Bains said some AFL journalists and commentators were unfairly targeting his coach.

Amid calls for his coach to be sacked on Thursday, Bains watched his side demolish St Kilda in a 60-point victory as he made clear the club’s aspirations this year were still to compete for a flag.

Beveridge’s selection calls have drawn attention to his left-field methods and while Bains said all clubs accepted criticism, he felt some of it was too personal towards his premiership coach.

“I had a feeling we were 0-12 given some of the commentary of the week but that comes with the territory. There were no crisis meetings,” he said.

“No (he isn’t under pressure). It’s round 5, he is contracted to the end of next year. There is an undue level of focus on him by a couple of journalists in particular which is their prerogative, but it feeds the media cycle a bit more than it should.

“Generally speaking the cycle dictates whoever is underperforming cops a bit of heat. But subjectively speaking from our end, the personalisation of it and the way it’s directed at the coach at times is over the top. There is not much more we can do than perform and shift the focus elsewhere.”

Some Dogs players have been disgruntled about Beveridge’s selection policies given he has dumped senior players with years of solid form or made them the club’s sub.

But Bains denied there was any confusion among senior players or animosity over their mates being left out of the side.