Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has admitted the club would be “saddened” to lose Buku Khamis, amid growing speculation the 24-year-old may seek a move in search of more senior opportunities.
While Khamis remains under contract for 2026, he hasn’t featured in the AFL side since Round 16 and has been turning heads in the VFL with strong form at both ends of the ground.
His manager, Ray Purcell, confirmed to the Herald Sun that they’re open to exploring options. “If the right opportunity came up, then he would go. But it has to be a club where he is going to play,” Purcell said.
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Beveridge backs Khamis, but team balance complicates selection
Khamis has played 14 senior games this season but finds himself on the fringes due to the Bulldogs’ current structure. Beveridge was clear in his admiration for the South Sudanese-born talent.
“We meet a lot of beautiful people in life, but he is one of the great people, Buku Khamis,” he said on Thursday. “We’d be saddened to lose him. He has become an influential player.”
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However, Beveridge acknowledged the tactical dilemma at play. “The balance of our team, playing one more key position player at the moment, our sort of current ideology is that's not going to suit what we want to do,” he explained.
Despite the outside noise, Beveridge remains confident Khamis will stay put. “He is contracted, so we're not going to want to lose him. If he's the next picked key position player at either end, it's very unlikely we're going to want to let him go.”
Khamis has booted 13 goals in his last four VFL games, including a five-goal haul against Essendon, and remains firmly on the radar as the Bulldogs push for a late-season finals berth.