Having guided the Bathurst Bulldogs first grade outfit all the way to the 2018 Blowes Clothing Cup grand final thanks to a different brand of rugby, Dean Oxley is excited about what lies ahead.

He has again put his hand up to coach the first grade outfit, with the solid base build in the first year of his tenure an undoubted asset as he thinks ahead.

It means Oxley, who will be assisted by Matt McRobert, will not have to make as many alterations to the mindset of his men.

“There will be less of the change and more of the same. Hopefully the players have got used to me and my style, as when we did change it was hard on everybody,” he said.

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“Me coming in and having new ideas and different ways to play the game was always going to be difficult to adapt to, but they did very well.

“That experience will hopefully serve them well for another tilt at it in 2019.”

The changes Oxley made this year were designed to not only create more versatility amongst his squad, but to add more attacking flair to Bulldogs’ brand of rugby.

While it did not ultimately lead to the premiership Oxley wanted – Orange Emus beating Bulldogs on grand final day – the changes did pay dividends.

“The amount of points that we scored was second to none and that was a massive change. That was huge to be able to go from I felt what was a fairly predictable style of football to one which was obviously the opposite to that,” he said.

“That’s just testament to their ability to adapt and use their skill sets and how other players are using theirs.

“Adapting to change is such a difficult thing. Many people said to me that it was going to take a couple of years before you can change the mindset, but I said I didn’t want to wait for two years, I want to make that change now, right away.

“To be able to see the dividends now means more people are keen to get on board.”

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It is not just first grade that benefited either, with the entire playing roster given a boost. Oxley is keen to continue to work with the coaching staff, which has almost been finalised for 2019.

While third grade mentors are yet to be announced, premiership winning coach Tuma Aisake will once more guide the women’s team with the assistance of Matt Waterford and Marita Shoulders.

Former premiership winning player Adam Dwyer and Pip McIntosh will share the second grade job, while Shannon Felsch will guide Bulldogs’ colts with Mitchell Lavelle as his assistant.

“To have the calibre of those coaches contributing at the club is really important and very exciting,” Oxley said.