Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge cannot fathom the pressure Alastair Clarkson is under as part of the ongoing saga involving alleged racism during his reign at Hawthorn.
Beveridge, who coached the Western Bulldogs to a dominant 45-point win over Adelaide in Ballarat on Saturday, served as an assistant to Clarkson at Hawthorn from 2012 to 2014.
The 2016 premiership coach has been in contact with Clarkson since he stepped aside from North Melbourne this week and said it was an extremely difficult period for all involved.
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Beveridge said he cherished his time at Hawthorn and was “never privy to anything untoward” involving Clarkson, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan and welfare manager Jason Burt.
“In my time at the Hawks, the three gentlemen … were nothing but supportive and, I felt, always had everyone’s best interests at heart, so it was a surprise when it first came out,” he said.
“I can’t fathom what he has been through, what his family has been through, and I just really feel for him. I just hope that he is going to be OK and that we see him back at some point.
“I think we should remember what his reputation has been in football, for the things he has done in the game, the trailblazer he has been.
“But I also feel for all parties involved. I hope everyone will be OK in the long run. Time seems to heal most wounds. But time will tell whether it heals these ones.”
The Bulldogs were outstanding against Adelaide, with their fifth win in succession ensuring they are well-placed to launch an assault on the top four in the second half of the season.
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Although star ruckman Tim English was outpointed in rucking contests by Reilly O’Brien, the Bulldogs were largely in control of the match throughout against the eighth-placed Crows.
But the triumph came at a cost, with 2016 Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen injuring a hamstring.
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli had his left knee assessed by trainers in the third term after receiving a knock, but Beveridge said there did not appear to be a structural issue.
From brisk conditions in Ballarat, where the temperature barely topped 10C, the Bulldogs travel to tropical Darwin on Thursday to play the Gold Coast.
The Bulldogs will train indoors in a heated room early this week in a bid to prepare for the drastic change in temperatures they will confront on Saturday night in the Northern Territory.
“In a sense, playing in damp conditions (today) is probably a good … precursor to going up there,” Beveridge said.
“But the heat and humidity should be a level playing field, (with) both clubs going up on Thursday.”