Prince Harry has stunned AFL fans by kicking a footy with three Western Bulldogs stars as coach Luke Beveridge bemoaned missing out on meeting the British Royal.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, made an appearance at the Bulldogs’ training ground, Whitten Oval, on Wednesday on behalf of Movember — the campaign raising awareness for men’s mental health.
And he showed off his skills with the footy in front of Bulldogs stars Adam Treloar, Matt Kennedy and Tom Liberatore.
Coach Beveridge was not present for Prince Harry’s visit and admitted to the media that he would have loved to meet him.
He said: “Most of us missed out on meeting him which was a bit unfortunate, it would’ve been great.
“I’ve got a healthy respect for both the princes with their history of commitment to military service and he had 10 years in the army, two tours of Afghanistan, I would have liked to have shaken his hand just to meet him.
“It was a special privilege for (the three players) and I think (Liberatore) was ideal to press the flesh. I hope he bowed his head, that’s what you do with the royals, not sure he did, but it was great to have Prince Harry here.”
Beveridge, who is gearing his side up for Friday’s clash with Geelong, went on to explain the reason behind Treloar, Kennedy and Liberatore being selected as the three to meet the Prince — while he admired from a distance.
“It was to do with fatherhood,” he said. “All three of those lads are dads and that was why (we picked them).
“I couldn’t get near him. I saw him from afar. It was good to be in his presence.
“I’m by no means a monarchist or a royalist, but I think he’s still got a little aura about him. But no, I couldn’t get near him.”
The Bulldogs have begun the season in fine form, winning four of their five matches.
But they come into the Geelong game off the back of their first defeat of the campaign — 104-64 to Hawthorn.
