Beveridge opens up on AFL grand final loss

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge watched last year’s “traumatic” AFL grand loss defeat once before quickly focusing his attention on the 2022 season.

In one of the most dramatic turnarounds in AFL history, the Bulldogs were up by 19 points midway through the third quarter before Melbourne produced a stunning surge to break their premiership drought by 74 points.

The Bulldogs conceded 16 of the last 17 goals in the decider, with many questioning how the obliteration will mentally affect the talented group.

Stream Seven's coverage of AFLW for free on 7plus >>

But Beveridge remains proud of how the team won three cut-throat finals to reach the grand final and is focusing on that rather than the last quarter-and-a-half against the Demons.

“I delved into the reasons why the season ended so dramatically, and probably traumatically, a little bit,” Beveridge told SEN.

“I think you can dream a little bit, and think you’re on the dais when you’re up by 19 points in a grand final, I don’t know whether that happened (to the players).

“In triumphs, or in defeat, you need to move on and re-establish yourself all over again.

“We’ve taken a pretty simplistic approach ... there’s lots to be gained on how we got there (to the grand final) and how we might be able to build on that, more than why it fell apart late in the game.

“If you spend too much time processing what’s happened in the past, you’re only going to do yourself (harm).

“For my health and wellbeing and benefit, all I’ve done is pushed ahead.

“I reviewed the game, I watched it once, I pulled everything out of it that I usually do and left it there.

“It hasn’t been shown and hasn’t been looked at since.

“I’d rather look at the possibilities are now into the future.”

The