Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge label Essendon Bomber Sam Draper’s comments bizarre

“When something like that happens in regards to me I can deal with it, but it’s unusual.”

Beveridge was asked how he would feel if one of his Bulldogs players made similar comments about an opposing coach.

“This is normally one where I’m sure that he [Draper] has had a think about it and maybe he wouldn’t do it again, I’m not sure,” he said.

Injured midfielder Bailey Smith is one player heavily linked to a move to another club.

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Smith, who will miss the entire 2024 campaign and is off-contract at season’s end, has been completing some of his rehabilitation away from Whitten Oval.

“The good thing is Bailey is back running on the grass now … feeling pretty good about himself … and that will help with his peace of mind and feeling really positive about his return,” Beveridge said.

“His contact hours have gone right up now that he’s back doing a lot more.

The coach said forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan “should” be right to face Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium after he missed the past two games due to personal reasons.

“He wasn’t too far away from being able to play last week, but on such an interrupted preparation, it’s a better idea for him to have another week off and get some momentum,” Beveridge said.

Star midfielder Tom Liberatore will almost certainly be back to face the Hawks after missing last week’s defeat to Fremantle due to illness passed on by his son.

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