PREMIERSHIP-winning coach Luke Beveridge has been nominated as coach of the year in the 2016 AIS Sport Performance Awards.
The 46-year-old coached the Western Bulldogs to its drought-breaking flag in just his second season as a senior AFL coach.
After a spate of injuries the Bulldogs had an amazing finals series, coming from behind in every game to win four consecutive matches and landing the club's first premiership for 62 years.
Beveridge then made the post-siren gesture of handing his medal to injured captain Bob Murphy, who had been sidelined since round three.
He was named AFL Coach of the Year and won a Sports Australia Hall of Fame ‘Spirit of Sport’ Award in October.
He has been nominated as a finalist alongside Michael Blackburn (Olympic sailing), Tim Walsh (Olympic Women’s Rugby Sevens) and Brad Dubberly (Paralympics Wheelchair Rugby) in the award that will be presented in Sydney on December 14.
Acting Australian Sports Commission CEO Matt Favier said representatives from 15 sports were among this year’s award nominees.
"The AIS Sport Performance Awards is an opportunity for the Australian sport sector to come together and celebrate remarkable achievements," Favier said.
The Western Bulldogs were also nominated for Sports Team of the Year award, which is chosen through a popular vote.
