Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was awarded the AFL Coaches Association senior coach of the year award after guiding his side to unthinkable heights in season 2015.
Beveridge polled 365 votes, and pipped second-placed West Coast coach Adam Simpson to get the gong.
The Western Bulldogs finished 14th last year, but made an elimination final after placing sixth at the end of the 2015 home-and-away season, only to lose to Adelaide in a tight seven-point loss at the MCG.
Beveridge, whose grandfather originates from Samos, was humbled after receiving the honour. “It’s a huge honour, and mainly because it is voted by your peers.
“It takes a bit for me to have any tension in my relationships, so when I took over I tried to get the message across that it was going to be a supportive coaching tenure.
“What all our coaches and staff have done for our club has been great and it allows us to start 2016 on a better platform,” he said.
After his first season as Bulldogs coach, Beveridge’s record sits on 14 wins and nine losses.
His playing career spanned 11 years, where he featured for Melbourne, Footscray and St Kilda.
