Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was never offered the security of a three-year contract during his playing days with Footscray, Melbourne and St.Kilda.
“I didn’t get there," he told media on Tuesday afternoon.
“No 'three yearers’, [but] a fair few 'one yearers,’" he laughed.
The Bulldogs announced earlier in the day that the second year coach had extended his current contract by three years, extending his tenure at VU Whitten Oval until at least 2020.
Beveridge said it meant a lot to be charged with leading the group into the future, a responsibility he doesn’t take lightly.
“So many people have put in a hell of a lot of hard work, and I’m the fortunate one who gets to be the senior coach," Beveridge said.
“I’m a product of everyone’s energy, so I want to thank the players and everything they’ve done.
“And all our staff and everything they’ve contributed to in my short time in the seat.
“[I’m] just really looking forward to our future.”
That future starts on Saturday night when the Bulldogs face North Melbourne, a match likely to have a major impact on both sides’ final ladder position.
Only percentage separates the seventh placed Dogs from the eight placed, while a win keeps both sides in touch with teams placed second through fifth on the ladder that are one win clear.
While pundits had been suggesting that the Dogs’ 2016 aspirations had been cruelled by injuries, Beveridge said that was not the case.
“Try tell our players that," he said.
“We had some meetings today and yesterday identifying things we can improve on, and acknowledging the things that are good.
“We feel like there’s a lot of growth left in us when you consider on the weekend where our Footscray VFL side came from six goals down at three quarter time to beat a really strong Box Hill team.”
Beveridge said Dogs were likely to welcome back defenders Dale Morris and Matthew Boyd, while Matthew Suckling was ‘touch and go’ in his recovery from an Achilles complaint.
The Bulldogs face North Melbourne, Collingwood and Essendon in Melbourne over the next three weeks before travelling to Perth to face Fremantle in the final match of the home and away season.
