Bulldogs coach calls out ‘bizarre’ Bomber claims

Bulldogs coach calls out ‘bizarre’ Bomber claims

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has called out “bizarre” claims from Essendon ruckman Sam Draper that players would want out of the club if he stayed on beyond this season but was unmoved by the suggestions injured midfield star Bailey Smith was “gone”.

Draper was given a dressing down by Essendon officials and teammates after the Bulldogs expressed dismay when the big man told the Clubby Sports 200+ podcast that he had a “big call about the Doggies”.

“If Bevo’s still there, there’ll be some players requesting trades,” he said before declaring Smith, who is off contract at the end of the season and recovering from an ACL injury, would leave.

Beveridge on Thursday was reticent to go into depth in a response but said people at the Bombers were “alarmed” enough to apologise and hoped one of his players wouldn’t do the same thing.

“We break new ground all the time, it was bizarre to me,” he said.

“The people who became aware, who were close to him at the football club, were extremely alarmed and reached out to me to express their apologies. But ultimately, as I have said in the past, my No.1 concern is our players are taken care of and supported and the critical lens that’s aimed at them week to week, I’m always happy when they are in a good space. It’s unusual.