LUKE Beveridge has been crowned the AFL Coaches' Association coach of the year for the second straight season after leading the Western Bulldogs to their first Grand Final since 1961.
Beveridge, who took the reins at the end of 2014, has won the peer-voted award in each of his two seasons in charge and has this year orchestrated a fairytale run to the premiership decider.
The 46-year-old edged out his Grand Final opponent, Sydney Swans coach John Longmire, and Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron to claim the award at a gala event on Tuesday night.
Named after coaching icon Allan Jeans, the coach of the year award is voted on by more than 180 coaches at different levels of the AFL system.
The AFLCA this year conducted its voting after the preliminary finals, rather than the end of the home-and-away season, after Alastair Clarkson was overlooked for the award through Hawthorn's premierships of 2013-15.
The 187 AFLCA members vote 3-2-1 on the coach of the year, with Beveridge polling 341 votes to win from Longmire (202) and Cameron (118).
The voting criteria includes team performance, available resources and player talent, with Beveridge defying significant injuries this season to lead his club into the Grand Final.
The Bulldogs have also travelled twice in the finals – beating West Coast and GWS on the road and Hawthorn at the MCG – to create history on their way to this Saturday's decider.
Beveridge is the first coach since Mark Thompson in 2007-2008 to go back-to-back in winning the award.
AFLCA Coach of the Year past winners
2003 - Paul Roos (Sydney Swans)
2004 - Mark Williams (Port Adelaide)
2005 - Neil Craig (Adelaide)
2006 - John Worsfold (West Coast)
2007 - Mark Thompson (Geelong)
2008 - Mark Thompson (Geelong)
2009 - Ross Lyon (St Kilda)
2010 - Michael Malthouse (Collingwood)
2011 - John Worsfold (West Coast)
2012 - John Longmire (Sydney Swans)
2013 - Ken Hinkley (Port Adelaide)
2014 - John Longmire (Sydney Swans)
2015 – Luke Beveridge (Western Bulldogs)
