Luke Beveridge reveals the opera singer and life coach helping players with mental health support
A number of Western Bulldogs players have been working with an opera singer and life coach in a bid to improve their mental wellbeing, coach Luke Beveridge has revealed.
Beveridge revealed the work of performer Josh Piterman with members of his playing group during a press conference on Wednesday after being asked about the AFL's proposed mandate for clubs to employ a full-time psychologist following the Elijah Hollands incident.
The mandate is one that Beveridge fears will be hard to achieve due to the heavy travel schedule and demands that come with operating within an AFL club.
READ MORE: Former NRL star reveals homelessness, addiction battle
READ MORE: 'I am overturning it': Premier steps in over 'stupid' World Cup call
READ MORE: 'Odd' situation at Carlton as four top coach candidates jostle
Dr Andrew Waterson currently works alongside the Bulldogs as their head psychologist, however, he is not employed at the club on a full-time basis.
Waterson still operates his own clinic outside of working with the team, which Beveridge insists is likely more "lucrative" than the funds he would receive from the Bulldogs.
Josh Piterman (right) has been at the Dogs since 2024, starting as a community foundation ambassador. Getty Images for Opera Australia
Along with Waterson, players also have the option to work with other practitioners like Piterman, who has joined the club's mental health support team.
"Some players have a preferred psych or life coach that they like to see," Beveridge said.
"Some of our guys see Josh Piterman, our opera singer and breath educator. He is such a talented person, singer ... such a beautiful human."
While Piterman can not assist on the clinical side of the mental health support team, Beveridge recognised that the most important thing is that players are feeling cared for.
"As long as players feel like they're being cared for, that's really important.
"The AFL provide a number of third party options, and we've been through that with some of our players who aren't here anymore.
"You still need that support network, every club does."
Luke Beveridge, senior coach of the Western Bulldogs. Getty
Beveridge then turned his attention to the AFL's revised illicit drugs policy, which sees senior coaches left out of the loop if players are struggling with drug use.
The guidelines in the new policy were deemed by Beveridge to be compromising the care that clubs can offer to their players.
"What happens in the AFL environment is that we all take care of the players' welfare," he said.
"It's one of the things with the new illicit code, where certain people aren't allowed to know that players are struggling.
"From a mental health point of view, it just compromises our care.
"I can only use our man, Andrew Waterson, who's our appointed psych.
"It came out of the Peter Jackson review (at the end of 2023) that we were in the lower percentile in the competition, as far as (mental health) investment goes.
"Andrew is doing an incredible job."
The Western Bulldogs will face Port Adelaide on Thursday night.
