Underfire Western Bulldogs head coach Luke Beveridge faced the media on Thursday, expressing he feels "oblivious" to the pressure.
Beveridge has been facing huge scrutiny in the past few weeks after the Bulldogs have lacked form and have only won three games this year. The Dogs have had a lot of expectations the past few years and not playing finals last year was a huge loss. On paper, the list at the Bulldogs is very strong and should be performing much better than they are.
At the media press conference on Thursday when Beveridge was asked about the pressure, he was quick to respond that he does not feel it.
โEveryone knows in here, I'm in the right place," he said.
"I'm probably blind or oblivious to (criticism) a little bit.โ
The Bulldogs are now 3-5 after losing to the Hawks last Sunday, which is their fourth loss out of five games.
"The pressure's always there. I don't feel it any less or any more," said Beveridge.
โI don't tend to worry about it too much these days.
"It's just really important that I don't pay much attention to that.
"The opinions and the scrutiny of what I do within the football club are most important to me, and the messaging and the care and love for me and the journey we're on has been strong."
When asked about the impact on the playing group he expressed there is no doubt they wouldn't be affected.
โWe'd be telling porky pies if we said that the players weren't affected by the outside noise. It's part and parcel of what we do and the sporting code on a national level โฆ Sometimes it can be confronting,
โSo, the critical thing, in today's day and age, is that the players don't come into the club feeling like they're under the same kind of scrutiny as they are, you know, externally.
โThat this has got to be a safe place somewhere that they can come and feel like they belong and, and work together. And that that's evident, you know, the players are close.โ
The Dogs headed away from their facility on Tuesday to St Kilda Sea Baths to change up the routine, rather than doing their standard review.
This weekend is a huge match for the Dogs and Luke Beveridge at the MCG when they take on the Tigers. If the Bulldogs can't get over the line there will be serious questions asked next week to the Western Bulldogs board on Beveridge's position as head coach.
Though this week president Kylie Watson-Wheeler spoke this week on ABC radio saying there is no need to panic and to make decisions about coaches this early, however, things may be different this time next week if the Dogs are 3 from 6.
