THE WESTERN Bulldogs have denied Luke Beveridge has been avoiding media requests despite the fact the premiership coach is yet to speak publicly since the end of last year.
With most of the League's senior coaches already seen or heard on various media outlets, the Bulldogs have so far let players and assistant coaches do the talking as they prepare to atone for an underwhelming premiership defence last season.
The 47-year-old did speak to the club's website back in December during a training camp in Torquay.
Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains said Beveridge wasn't being evasive, and was just allowing other members of the club to do the talking ahead of the season proper.
Beveridge was prominent in the media in the wake of the Bulldogs' 2016 premiership triumph and did several interviews in his role as an ambassador for a wine company.
"He (Beveridge) hasn't decided to put a media ban on himself, nor has the club," Bains told SEN on Friday.
"The club has been really prominent (in the media), but the bottom line is, at this time of year there is a need to spread the load, which is happening.
"During the season, the senior coach takes on a lot of responsibilities week to week.
"Luke has been terrific for the club in that respect in terms of marketing the club.
"He has done a few things in terms of promoting the club through the club's channels with new sponsors coming on board.
"I'm not sure that's quite right in terms of it being a conscious decision to avoid the media, I think the club is being very prominent in terms of sharing the load at this time of year."
Bains also disputed the belief that Beveridge was dodging talking about the messy departure of premiership forward Jake Stringer from the club.
Beveridge came out publicly prior to last October's NAB AFL Trade Period, declaring it would be better if the Dogs and Stringer parted company.
The 2015 All Australian was eventually traded to Essendon on the last day of the trade period for picks 25 and 30 in last year's draft.
Recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple was another high-profile departure over the off-season, with the respected talent spotter defecting to the Sydney Swans last week.
It was the second big loss to the football department in months after list manager Jason McCartney was poached by Greater Western Sydney.
"An opportunity came for Simon at the Sydney Swans, and he asked to be released from his contract to pursue that, and on balance, we were happy to agree to it," Bains said.
"I think from both parties' perspective, there was a recognition that a fresh start was probably required as a result of a number of factors."
