ONE win - that is what stands between the Bathurst Bulldogs and Blowes Clothing Cup glory.
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This Saturday the Bulldogs will line up against Orange Emus at Endeavour Oval with getting that win their sole focus.
Bulldogs coach Dean Oxley believes they can do it. Here are his thoughts.
SETTING AN EARLY GRAND FINAL GOAL
WHEN Dean Oxley paired with Col Kemp as the coach of Bulldogs’ first grade side this season, he made it clear he had a premiership in mind.
Revealing that goal early put pressure on himself and his playing group, but they have thus far risen to each challenge they have faced.
“I suppose I put myself on the line there a bit in regards to making statements early, but I was confident in the quality of the player I had been watching for the last couple of years,” Oxley said.
“If they could just change a couple of little things they’d been doing and work harder – and they’ve certainly worked harder and made the changes – they’ve given themselves this opportunity.
“As I’ve always said, from that first conversation when people said to me ‘What is your goal?’ I said it was to win the grand final. We’ve given ourselves the chance and we’ll see what happens.
“I don’t have any anxiety about the result because we’ve already achieved, but if the boys go up with the belief, then we can beat Emus. They are a very strong side, but they can be beaten.
“Cowra, Forbes and Bathurst have all beaten Emus this year, so it’s not a concern for me.
“Whoever wants to win the game I think will be the victors on the day.
“I’m not waiting until next year to win the comp, you don’t work this hard to say ‘We’ll worry about it next year’, it’s right here, right now.”
HOW TO BEAT EMUS AT ENDEAVOUR
IN order for Bulldogs to be crowned champions this Saturday it will mean beating Emus at Endeavour Oval – something the Bathurst side has not managed this year.
But even in Bulldogs’ most recent loss on the greens’ home turf, a 28-19 major semi-final defeat, Oxley saw enough to think they can get the job done in the decider.
“We are looking at some tweaking of our structures and a few little changes to nullify some of their strengths. On the day it will be all about our attitude,” he said.
“You can talk about belief, but in those critical moments in the semi-final, there were two moments where we just didn’t stand up and they took advantage. We’ve just got to try and do better in those big moments.
“It’s such small little things which can swing a game. Certainly our possession was a real concern in the semi-final, I believe we competed with 30 percent of the ball which is quite bizarre.
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“They had all the opportunity and all the ball, but our defence was outstanding. Even though we did miss a lot of tackles – I know it might sound a bit contradictory – but we scrambled and got it done and they couldn’t convert their possession into points effectively.
“Not that it was as close as our previous game at Emus, 26-25, but nine points [difference] I believe wasn’t a real reflection of the game. We had our opportunities to score which would have brought it to possibly within a penalty or a field goal.
“If we can get to that place where we are in a position to win the game and it’s ours for the taking, I think we can do it. I know we can do it.”
BULLDOGS’ GRAND FINAL LINE-UP
WHILE more than 30 players have enjoyed first grade time this season and each of them deserved it, only 15 can start in the grand final.
Oxley and Kemp have made just one change from the line-up which beat Cowra 27-0 in the preliminary final as Alex Weal returns from week off due to concussion.
“Alex Weal comes in for Dylan Carter which was a massive decision. Dylan has been in the side throughout the year, but Alex Weal’s experience is quite critical,” Oxley said.
“Dylan has been playing very good football, but Alex has a different style of game. The balance of the team with Alex in, I believe, is the strongest eight in the forwards. The back line stays the same.
“As I’ve said all year, we’ve been a squad and I know there’s at least 12 forwards that could be starting on Saturday and I’d be very confident in all those 12.
“Our pack has been our strength, our backs have worked well off the strength of our forwards. They have really set a wonderful platform and the task first up for them to do that same thing on Saturday.”
PRESSURE IS ON THE ORANGE EMUS
THERE is no doubt that the Bathurst Bulldogs will feel pressure to perform in Saturday’s grand final and end an eight-year wait for a first premiership.
However, Oxley feels it is the hosts who will shoulder the most pressure.
“There are some players in that team that are looking to finish up at the end of the year, they have hosted four years in a row and haven’t been able to get it done each of those four years,” he said.
“I think Bathurst plays better away in these major games anyway. They tend to step up with that nothing to lose scenario.
“We’ve won many finals away from home against teams we weren’t meant to compete with, so I’ve got no issue with us playing away, and I certainly believe that Emus have all the pressure.
“They will have to be able to manage that situation.”
BATHURST BULLDOGS: 1 Aaron Booby, 2 Sean Fogarty, 3 Joel Harper, 4 Mark Donnelly, 5 Justin Mobbs, 6 Harry Peacock, 7 Alex Weal, 8 Peter Fitzsimmons, 9 Josh Oxley, 10 Brad Glasson, 11 Ben Sheppeard, 12 Adam Miles, 13 Harry Webber, 14 Will Oldham, 15 Josh Weekes, 16 Liam Berry, 17 Dylan Carter, 18 Travis Gibson, 19 Adam Dwyer, 20 Kurt Weekes, 21 Scott Johnston, 22 Adam Powell, 23 Phil Tonkin, 24 Riley Hanrahan.
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