AFL called to step in over Bevo’s ‘absurd’ tirade

Neil Mitchell says the AFL should intervene after Luke Beveridge’s angry tirade against a journalist last night.

The Western Bulldogs coach launched an extraordinary attack on a Fox Footy journalist Tom Morris, who reported accurately earlier this week that midfielder Lachie Hunter would not be picked for Round 1.

In his vicious outburst, Beveridge called Morris “an embarrassment”, accused the journalist, who is a Melbourne supporter, of “preying” on the Bulldogs and tried to order him to leave the press conference.

Neil Mitchell, a former sports editor at The Age, says the outburst from the Western Bulldogs coach was “the greatest coaching dummy spit” he’s ever seen, and showed Beveridge doesn’t understand the role of the media.

He says the coach must face consequences for the out-of-order attack.

“Luke Beveridge should be fined by the AFL. I think he should apologise publicly to the reporter. I think, from what I’m told, he’s a big enough man to do that,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“This is absurd. The problem here for Luke Beveridge is the leak, not the reporter.”

Neil says the Bulldogs coach doesn’t understand the role of  journalists.

“We’re not there to promote football and hold the hand of the clubs,” he said, adding “We’re there to report for the fans what is happening, and how it’s happening, and why it’s happening”.

“Just think about it: The AFL says you are not allowed to abuse umpires.

“Are you allowed to treat a reporter doing his job in that way?”

Press PLAY below to hear the consequences Neil Mitchell thinks Beveridge should face for his “absurd” outburst

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