The Western Bulldogs were playing with heavy hearts on Saturday, with coach Luke Beveridge opening up on two personal tragedies that rocked the club this week.
Speaking in his press conference after the Bulldogs’ one-point loss to the Adelaide Crows, Beveridge revealed that Mitch Wallis’ mother-in-law had died on Thursday after being struck by a car last weekend.
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Wallis’ wife Emily is pregnant with their second child and due to give birth any day now.
Beveridge also revealed that development coach and former Geelong Cats player Travis Varcoe was mourning the death of his mother last week.
“It has been a challenging week for the group, for the club,” Beveridge said.
“It has been a really traumatic week for the families, and obviously your football club is like a second home, a second family, and everyone feels that and is really emotional around what is happening with Mitch and Emily and their families.
“We are just hoping everything goes smoothly over the next week or so with Emily and the imminent birth of their child.”
The devastating news comes after former captain Lachie Hunter stepped away from the club indefinitely last week due to personal reasons.
“I don’t have that concern,” Beveridge said on Wednesday when asked if he was worried about Hunter not returning to the club.
“I believe Lachie is going to be OK and we’ll have him back before the end of the year.
“Over the journey Lachie’s had a challenge here and there.
“The thing about ‘Hunts’ is every time he turns up to play he gives his absolute all, and in recent times it’s got on top of him a little bit.
“He’s OK but he knows in the immediate future he’s got to work through a few things.
