Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge believes the power of storytelling and adventure still plays an important role in maximising the performance of the modern-day players.
The Dogs’ premiership coach has become known for his strength in using themes and narratives to provide inspiration for his teams.
As a player, Beveridge was influenced by his coaches at the Demons (John Northey), Saints (Stan Alves) and Bulldogs (Terry Wheeler), but in particular Northey, who he described as “a great motivator of young men”.
And he carried those philosophies through his coaching infancy in the Victorian Amateur Football Association with St Bede’s Mentone, which paved the way for his arrival as coach of the Bulldogs at the end of 2014.
“The new generation love adventure and they love escapism. They like for you to just take the pressure out of it a fraction and give them an angle that makes them feel differently about themselves and the team,” Beveridge said.
“I started exploring that when I coached the boys at St Bede’s. I was a bit adventurous, and I’ve carried that through.
“It’s probably my personality. I like a laugh. I do like adventure and literature.
“You relate stories and relate it back to people and the team at different times, you create storylines and try to internalise inspiration.
“It’s a challenge, but I feel like it’s a really important part of the equation.”
Beveridge was a special guest on RSN’s Breakfast Club on Wednesday, recalling the 31-year anniversary of his first VFL game, on May 13, 1989 while playing for Melbourne.
