Frankly I'm a bit disgusted by the overreactions to our recent losses, and the calling for Bevo's head just a couple of seasons post our last Grand Final appearance.
What other coach on the market would have a CV even close to Bevo?
It's not just the 2 GF's, Premiership and consistent finals appearances. It's that those achievements occurred at the Bulldogs. Prior to 2016 many of us had begun to despair that we would make a Grand Final in our lifetimes let alone win a Flag. Many good coaches before him tried and failed, some who had great successes at richer and more powerful clubs. If we roll the dice, we may get another great and successful coach straight away, but history suggests the odds are most definitely against it.
For all of the rubbish about us having such a great list, one that Bevo has supposedly under achieved with, perhaps the question should be asked 'why weren't those supposedly great players able to deliver on Sunday?' How about them taking on a bit more responsibility for the loss? It wasn't Bevo out there missing tackles, handballs and shots on goal.
Of course, Bevo has his fair share of flaws, every person and coach does. I understand and share everyone's frustration with the current situation, particularly when it comes to team selection. However, we need to consider the whole package, because there are a lot of positives that more than offset those flaws that people seem to be fed up with.
People also seem to forget that we lost 2 top tier players from last year's team in Dunkley and Hunter. Players of that level don't grow on trees and take time to replace. We are still to receive some of our compensation for last year's trading in this year's draft. On top of those losses we have had more than our fair share of bad luck with injury this year.
We have also had some very up and down performances from some of our most talented young players, but that happens with young players. We sometimes need to give as much patience to a 3rd or 5th year player going through a rough patch as we show for a 1st year rookie.
If we show a similar level of patience with our coach as we would like to see him show some our favourite players when they are going through a tough patch, then we may end up being rewarded in the future.
I hope that Bevo and Granty are true to their word and weather the current storm.
Bevo's coaching story could still have a successful third act left in it, and if it does, I'd much prefer it to occur at the Bulldogs.
Hunter is a not a top tier player lol.
Bevo has not changed a thing since the 2021 GF humiliation.
We lost the same way to Melbourne R1 2022 and countless games in 2022 ending in an aging Freo midfield embarrassing us in the EF.
We lost the same way to Melbourne R1 2023 and the Saints and the Swans and the Giants and the Suns and the Pies and the Cats etc etc.
We are consistently losing the same way, getting a lead and then the other team getting a run and their midfield completely dominating. Bevo never makes any changes and it is clear the game has gone past him. He put Lobb at KPD against the Giants ffs.
Bevo was the best man to coach the Bulldogs in 2016, but there is no doubt in my mind the longer we keep Bevo the more damage he will do to his legacy and the club.