St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs are in mourning after the death of much-loved figure John Beveridge.
Beveridge, the father of Bulldogs coach Luke, died on Thursday night after a long battle with illness at the age of 85.
Widely regarded as one of the game’s best recruiters, Beveridge was instrumental in turning the Saints into a powerhouse in the late 2000s.
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He recruited superstars Nick Riewoldt, Robert Harvey, Lenny Hayes and Brendon Goddard to the club, as well as a host of other astute selections that helped turn the club in a genuine premiership contender.
Beveridge arrived at St Kilda in 1965 after working as a statistician for Footy Week magazine, and quickly moved into recruiting in a career spanning several decades.
He often went back to the club and was always welcomed with open arms.
“John’s impact on our club has been felt for generations and there is no doubt he stands among the best recruiters Australian Rules Football has ever seen,” St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena said.
“His ability to see the potential in a draftee as both a footballer and a person was second to none.
“We send our love and condolences to all who had the pleasure of knowing John across the journey, and thank him for all he did for our club and community.”
The Western Bulldogs also paid tribute to Beveridge.
“The club sends its condolences to Luke and the entire Beveridge family following the loss of his father John. John was a revered recruiter for St Kilda with his career in football spanning over five decades,” the said in a statement.
Prior to recruiting, Beveridge played under-19s with Collingwood before two years in the VFA with Sandringham.
He also spent time coaching junior teams.
Beveridge was honoured with St Kilda life membership and also recognised by the AFL for his contribution to the game with the Jack Titus Service Award in 2021.