Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has detailed the frightening impact of a menacing letter demanding $100,000 that was delivered to his family home.
Brendon Berry, 54, pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday to charges including using a postal service to menace.
According to the Daily Telegraph’s court report, the letter arrived at Beveridge’s home on June 26, 2025, while the premiership coach was travelling for work.
Beveridge’s son reportedly collected the letter and left it on the kitchen bench before his father returned home two days later.
The handwritten message demanded that Beveridge transfer $100,000 into a supplied bank account by the following Friday. Although prosecutors acknowledged the letter did not contain an explicit threat of violence, its language and references suggested there would be consequences if the money was not paid.
The document was signed “Brendon” and included Berry’s banking details.
Beveridge Feared for His Family
In a victim impact statement presented to the court, Beveridge explained that receiving the letter immediately made him concerned about the safety of his family.
“I found it deeply disturbing that someone who did not know me would be so callous as to strike fear into the heart of those around me,” Beveridge said.
“What frustrated me most was the disregard shown for the effect that such a letter can have on innocent people.”
Beveridge said he was not intimidated into meeting the demand, but the incident caused him to experience thoughts and emotions that were unfamiliar to him.
“It almost sent me down the vigilante-thinking track,” he said.
“I hope the offender reflected on the consequences of his actions and understands the effect goes far beyond a threatening letter.”
The AFL was sufficiently concerned about the letter to provide Beveridge with additional security while Berry remained unidentified.
That protection included a security presence around the Bulldogs coach during the club’s July 3, 2025 match against North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium. The additional measures were reportedly removed after Berry was arrested.
Accused Claimed Previous Connection to Beveridge
Berry reportedly claimed he knew Beveridge from their school years, but prosecutor Andrew McCowan disputed that assertion in court.
The Bulldogs coach stated that the sender did not know him, while the prosecution said there was no established personal relationship explaining the demand.
Berry’s lawyer acknowledged that the letter was menacing and said his client had made no meaningful attempt to hide his identity. However, the court was reportedly given no clear explanation for why the letter was sent or why Beveridge was targeted.
Magistrate Siobhan Whittle described the circumstances surrounding the case as disturbing and ordered Berry to undergo an assessment for a possible community corrections order before sentencing.
Berry remains on bail while the matter returns to court.
Original Blackmail Charge Downgraded
When the allegations first became public in October 2025, Berry was accused of making an unwarranted demand for money with menace and using a postal service in a menacing manner.
He failed to attend several scheduled court appearances, prompting Magistrate Donna Bakos to issue a warrant for his arrest.
“I don’t issue warrants ever lightly,” Bakos said at the time.
“We explore all possibilities as we should, and I think I’ve exhausted all those possibilities.”
The original blackmail allegation was subsequently downgraded. Berry has now admitted the postal-service offence, meaning the case has moved beyond an allegation concerning that charge, although his sentence has not yet been determined.
The episode also highlights the security risks faced by prominent sporting figures and their families. Beveridge was one of several AFL coaches to receive additional protection during 2025 after separate and unrelated threats were directed towards Carlton coach Michael Voss and former Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin.
For Beveridge, the most distressing element was not the financial demand itself but the knowledge that the letter had been delivered directly to the home he shared with his family.
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