Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says early transparency in player movement would be \u201cterrible\u201d, despite reiterating his interest in Port Adelaide star Zak Butters.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs are leading the pack of 17 AFL clubs trying to pry out the Power\u2019s ace midfielder at season\u2019s end.<\/p>\n
Butters, 25, is out of contract at the end of 2026 and there is growing speculation he will return to Victoria \u2014 and closer to his country hometown of Darley.<\/p>\n
While Beveridge was comfortable discussing the Bulldogs\u2019 interest in Butters, he said the NRL style of premature announcements would be problematic for the AFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would hate to get to the point where rugby league has got to. I know there has been speculation that that would be a good thing \u2013 it would be a terrible thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know whether our game is just different, whether a player in your own ranks declares he\u2019s going to another club halfway through the season, that\u2019s not going to sit well with anyone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile they\u2019re here, just commit to what they\u2019re doing and I don\u2019t think anyone really needs to know if you\u2019ve made your call.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we reflect back on a player or two who have moved from here, maybe at some point they\u2019d made their decision but I\u2019d rather not know it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d rather them absolutely remain committed, give everything they can here or otherwise if you know you\u2019re looking for things in their game or out of the game that tells you they\u2019re not all in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beveridge was at ease reaffirming interest in Butters because the club had been on record about their intent. <\/p>\n
But the premiership coach, who has the Bulldogs 2-0, says he learnt from Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell meeting with Oscar Allen last year.<\/p>\n
Allen was forced to make a formal apology as West Coast Eagles captain after his meeting with Mitchell went public.<\/p>\n
Beveridge says he will never disclose whether he is in direct conversation or having meetings with any player out of respect of them and their existing club.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think every club who is interested in Zak has either spoken to him and connected with him personally in the off-season, if him and his management have allowed them to,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEither that or they\u2019ve expressed their interest through his management. We\u2019re on record saying: \u2018Who wouldn\u2019t be? What a great player he is.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI won\u2019t be catching up with Zak in Adelaide (on Friday night) and that\u2019s the thing, he\u2019s got a big decision to make as the year goes on and I need to make sure I don\u2019t hound him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think with anything around the detail and the connection with a player, I am on record saying I absolutely need to make sure I am front and square when we get an opportunity and I have over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t give any detail on whether or not I have connected with Zak, I don\u2019t want to get into the trouble Sam (Mitchell) was in last year.\u201d<\/p>\n