Soon to be out of contract Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has found an enormous ally in AFL great Lance Franklin.
Beveridge has the Bulldogs in great shape early in the 2025 season, sitting at 4-3 despite significant injuries across the board.
The 2016 premiership-winning coach is in the final year of his deal with the Dogs, with the club wishing to take their time after recent struggles.
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Franklin believes Beveridge is far too good a coach for the club to let go and has called on the Bulldogs to extend his deal.
"I rate Beveridge as one of the best coaches in the business," he told the Buddy and Shane Podcast on Monday.
"I think what he's been able to do for that club, and obviously winning the premiership, but I just think he's a genius, I really do. I think he's a bloody good coach.
"If I was the Bulldogs, I would be locking him away for sure."
Franklin was on the other side of the 2016 grand final – with the Swans – and knows first hand what Beveridge and the Bulldogs are capable of accomplishing.
He believes the Dogs would be mad to allow him to walk elsewhere.
"If he doesn't get a contract, I think that's the worst decision a club could ever make. Unless there's something else we don't know about behind close doors," he said.
"He's one of the best coaches in the competition. I'd be giving him a three or four year deal and saying 'there you go, you deserve that'.
"They've had injuries and they're humming. They're playing well. And give Marcus Bontempelli a 10-year deal too, stuff it."
Beveridge has already stated that if he is not coaching at the Western Bulldogs in 2026, he won't be coaching anywhere.
This came after Melbourne's interest in his services were reported in the media.
