Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge silenced applause from the audience during the club's end-of-year awards night, delivering a blunt assessment of the team's 2025 AFL season. The Bulldogs finished ninth on the ladder with 14 wins, missing the finals despite high expectations.
Speaking at the best and fairest event, Beveridge reflected on the campaign, noting the team was competitive in key games but fell short. When a member of the audience began clapping, he interjected: 'No, don't clap it. Because that's mediocrity.'
Beveridge emphasised that the club's standards have been raised since their grand final appearances in recent years. He stated that players were 'extremely flat and tormented' by missing the finals, adding: 'We aspire to greater things.'
Midfielder Ed Richards won the Charles Sutton Medal as the club's best player, edging out six-time winner Marcus Bontempelli by 13 votes.
