Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge launched an incredibly impassioned outburst at news breaker Tom Morris during his post-game press conference in the wake of Friday night's loss to Melbourne.
The problem? All he did was prove Morris's story on Lachie Hunter's original omission from the Western Bulldogs' squad for the season opener was, in fact, correct.
Fox Footy's Morris sensationally broke the story on Tuesday that the premiership midfielder had been "dropped on form".
For the record, Hunter played 25 of a possible 26 matches in 2021, missing just a single game due to a broken hand.
At the time, Beveridge bristled at the suggestion, saying "It's speculation from a journalist so you can't expect me to bite before the teams come out".
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Hunter was eventually named in the squad, omitted as a late change, before finally returning to the squad as an even later replacement for the injured Jason Johannisen, who was ruled out following the warm-up.
Goosebumps ๐ญโค๏ธ #AFLDeesDogs pic.twitter.com/ArNgpSyEdZ
— Zero Hanger (@zerohanger) March 16, 2022
In his post-game press conference following the opening round loss to reigning premiers - and 2021 Grand Final vanquishers - Melbourne, Beveridge was asked point-blank by Morris about the selection situations.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Bevo has let himself down tonight.
I dare say he'll wake up feeling more than a little sheepish and apologetic in the morning. https://t.co/uD6KsNGWPI
— Nick Splitter (@nicksplitter) March 16, 2022
The Dogs' mentor replied with a barrage of personal attacks on the journalist, accusing Morris of "causing turmoil within our club", and even suggesting that the scribe's patronage of the Melbourne Football Club had played a part in the story.
"You've got the nerve to ask me a question and even be here. You've been preying on us the last two times. You barrack for Melbourne, Tom Morris. You've been preying on us," opined Beveridge.
He then turned full aggressor.
"Is that the way Fox want you to operate? Is that what you're doing? Is that the gutter journalist you want to be? Is that who you want to be?"
This is pathetic from Luke Beveridge.
Tom is just doing his job and he got it right.
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) March 16, 2022
The catch? Beveridge admitted Morris' Hunter story had been correct after all.
"We went in with a plan. We had some late stuff go on, with JJ, unfortunately, coming out in the warm-up. Everything other than that was according to plan from the Sunday, which somehow you found out about again.
"Obviously, we need to put our hand up and say that there's some leakage going on.
"You're an embarrassment to what you do, mate. You're an embarrassment. An absolute embarrassment."
I've never seen a footy coach so far out of order as Luke Beveridge was in tonight's press conference.#afl2022
— Greg Baum (@GregBaum) March 16, 2022
Beveridge went to ask Morris directly "are you proud of yourself?" to which the Fox Footy presenter replied, "yes absolutely, Fox backs me."
Before walking out of the official AFL post-game question time, Beveridge finished by pointing to the door and announcing to Morris, "You're not welcome".
Whether Beveridge is ultimately sanctioned for his outburst - either by his club or the AFL - remains to be seen, but to his credit, Morris always stood by his source, stood by the story, and was inadvertently proven correct by Beveridge himself.
Where do you sit?