Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beverdge made a “statement” on the weekend to signal the club is in a “regeneration” phase, according to dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna.
Beveridge again turned to youth in a 29-point loss to Essendon as more Dogs stars fell out of favour at selection including Caleb Daniel getting dropped and Bailey Dale being made the sub – a week after Jack Macrae was demoted to the role.
The Bulldogs coach has stated the selection calls are part of the evolution of the team after two failed seasons where they’ve fallen short of expectations – including missing the finals last year – and wanting to put young players in bigger roles without explicating saying the club is in soft rebuild of sorts.
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Speaking on Fox Footy’s The First Crack, Montagna believes Beveridge made his clearest “statement” yet that the Dogs are embracing a changing of the guard.
“The biggest disappointment for me of the weekend was the Western Bulldogs and I think it was a statement,” Montagna said.
“I think we can put it to bed that ‘Bevo’ (Beveridge) knows this group is not good enough to be a genuine contender. He can’t come out and say it, you can’t say to your playing group: ‘I don’t believe we’re good enough to contend and I’m going to start regenerate’.
“But the actions made the statement with what he did at selection.”
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Montagna said the Dogs face a new “problem” and “different challenge” given the “players now know” the club is prioritising its next crop that’ll lead it into the future over its stalwarts.
“To try and say: ‘Look, I think some of the guys that have been great for us for a number of years – senior and All-Australian players – as a collective with those players in our team, I don’t think we can get to where we want to get to. So we need to bring in some more athleticism and leg speed and continue to play guys like (Harvey) Gallagher, (James) O’Donnell, (Lachie) Bramble and (Sam) Darcy and find the next group that can contend’,” Montagna said.
“This is a bit of a regeneration. It was subtle the last couple of weeks, now it’s a statement. Everyone needs to understand the group isn’t good enough and they’re going to have to try and regenerate on the run.
“They’ve got a good core group of players, it might not take that long, but it’s not going to be this year and it’s not going to be the group that have taken them to where they’ve gotten to in previous years.
“Don’t get me wrong, they might still play finals, they’re still a good enough team to be around the mark. But they’re not in it to be an around the mark team, they’re in it to win.
“The Swans did it and even Collingwood to a lesser extent, got rid of a few (veterans) and spiked pretty quick.”
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While pressure will undoubtedly build on Beveridge, who’s contracted until the end of 2025, should the 2-3 Dogs’ up and down form continue, Montagna thinks the club is “committed” to the 2016 premiership coach and decided it’s the list that needs to be revamped.
“It’s one or the other – it’s either the coach or the list (that hasn’t gotten the club where it wants to be). I think the’ve made a decision and are regenerating. They know they need more leg speed and players who can cover the ground,” the Saints legend added.
“They’re not getting caught up in: ‘Dale’s a beautiful kick, Daniel is a clever player and Macrae is a ball magnet’. They know better than us and understand what they’re doing off the ball: Are they really helping them defend? Do they really stop the run ons of goals that have been going on for 18 months?”
Montagna said the Dogs, in hindsight, could’ve tried to trade some of their veterans at the end of last season while they had more currency, while dual premiership Kangaroo David King called for them to be bold with list changes moving forward.
It comes with a host of big guns out of contract at season’s end including Tim English, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Bailey Smith.
“It’s just a matter of who you purge and what you get for them now. It’s the trade game now,” King said on The First Crack.
“Who holds the biggest trump card? Sell them. Get English out of the joint. Bailey Smith, you don’t want to be here? Fine, we’ll get a great pick for you. You can package up the rest.
“They’re more than steaknives, they’re going to be good assets for other clubs.”
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