Tim Watson believes the way Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was able to motivate his players to a drought breaking premiership is proof that he is possibly the game’s best ever coach.
The former Essendon champion said that Beveridge is a clear example of the importance a coach can bring to a team, inspiring the Bulldogs to success, despite having a crippling injury list leading into the finals.
“This debate that we often have about the importance of a coach, I’ve listened to Sam Newman over the years saying coaching is completely overrated, I have the polar opposite view about coaching,” Watson told Garry, Tim and Hamish.
“Luke Beveridge, on what we’ve seen so far, he may be one of the greatest coaches that the game has ever produced.
“If you have a look at his record, his pedigree already at amateur level taking his side from C (section), to B (section), to A (section) each year.
“Then what he’s done in two years with this team, you talk about the Bulldogs last year late in the season when they lost (Tom) Liberatore, Mitch Wallis, (Jackson) Macrae got injured, at that stage of the year you thought they’re done, they’re dusted, there’s no way this side is going to be able to produce a premiership.”
Respected journalist Mike Sheahan said while Beveridge has done an unbelievable job it is too early to declare him the best ever, but admitted his performance is what fairy tales are made of.
“It’s perfect to date, but it is too early –two seasons,” he said.
“But what he’s done is fairy tale stuff isn’t it? There’s no doubt about that.”
Watson was quick to dismiss the fairytale notion, which he suggested shows luck took place, and declared Beveridge had introduced a game plan never seen before in the AFL.
“It’s not a fairytale, when you look at the way he presented himself, the way that he changed the way they play, he’s employed a game plan that we haven’t seen before in this game as well,” he said.
“There’s more to it than just sort of (a fairytale), I think of fairy tales as something that has a bit of luck involved in what’s taken place.”