Luke Beveridge calls AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon’s response to Ed Richards ‘petty’

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon’s response to Ed Richards was “petty”.

The Bulldogs will play in the AFL’s first ever wildcard final when they take on Collingwood at the MCG this Friday night.

The wildcard finalists include the teams who finished between seventh and 10th, with the two winners earning the right to play in an elimination final the following week.

It means to win the premiership, teams playing in the wildcard weekend will have to win five games in a row to be premiers.

That’s why Richards says he’s treating it as just another round in the home and away season.

The 27-year-old conceded it felt like the Bulldogs hadn’t really made the finals yet.

“I would like to win this one and then really have that cemented final spot in an elimination (final).

“So just treating this one as I guess another week — Round 25, if you would.”

Those comments raised the eyebrows of Dillon when they were brought up at his press conference a couple of hours later.

“I haven’t heard those comments but I’m not sure the Bulldogs have played many home-and-away games in front of 90,000-plus (fans),” Dillon said.

On Monday night, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge returned fire at the AFL boss.

“It’s a bit petty by the CEO, isn’t it, to think a rebuttal is required,” Beveridge told Fox Sports.

“I don’t think he’s having a go with the wildcard initiative, it’s just his own way of looking at it.

“And obviously there are some sensitivities attached to it for the CEO to react like that.”