It was Christmas come early for Bulldogs fans on Friday after the Club confirmed the extension of senior coach Luke Beveridge, continuing his time in charge until at least the end of the 2025 season.

With a winning percentage of 57%, a premiership and 12 finals’ wins, Beveridge is the perfect person to take the Club forward into an exciting era.

CEO Ameet Bains couldn’t be more pleased to lock away the coach’s contract before the Christmas break, telling SEN Captains Run that everyone is extremely supportive of the decision.

“It is an exciting announcement,” Bains said.

“Our fans are really supportive of our decision and obviously Luke’s record speaks for itself during his time at the club.

“I think from our perspective – like every club, you conduct your end of year reflections on how the year has gone.

“Through that process it also became very clear that in terms of what we are hoping to achieve over the next few years, Luke was the man to take us forward.

“He has incredible support from the playing group and from the football program – he is really well respected.

“We commenced those discussions a number of weeks ago and came to the conclusion we’re all on the same page. Rather than wait, we may as well lock it in now.”

Despite the pressure that comes contract negotiations, Bains said that heading into the final year of a deal never really played on the mind of the Club.

“The pressure does come, that didn’t play into our decision making,” Bains said.

“We certainly didn’t feel like we had to make this all ahead of time to cut that off.  There has been a bit of noise.

“It didn’t drive the decision, the decision was made as to what was is in the best interests of the club and Luke obviously.

“The timing presented to lock it away this side of Christmas.”

The Club will again enter into 2023 with lofty ambitions and goals, headlined by the pursuit of a top four position.

“That has to be the ambition because history shows that we are the outlier having made a Grand Final and won a Grand Final outside the top four,” he said.

“You need to be in the top four to give yourself the best opportunity of winning the premiership and clearly everyone at our club including Luke acknowledges that has to be the aim.

“We go into this pre-season really excited about the year ahead.”