COME this Saturday, the Bathurst Bulldogs will be looking to add a new meaning to the term 'fitness influencers'.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is because the hard work the Bulldogs have done on fitness - it began well before the 2019 draw was even released - could be what gives them the edge in the Blowes Clothing Cup grand final.
Bulldogs will do battle with the Orange Emus at Ashwood Park, a team they have been evenly matched with throughout the season thus far.
But Emus have not beaten the Bulldogs in Bathurst and plenty of that has to do with the fitness levels of Dean Oxley's men.
"Confidence can be misconstrued as arrogance, but when we were down in the last round game against Orange Emus, there were a number of old boys standing near me and I said 'We're going to win this game, we'll score a late try.' We did that," Oxley said.
"I said that we would score late because of our fitness. In every game this year we've scored a lot of our points in the last five minutes of both halves of football.
"That's because I know we are not crawling into the finish line, we are accelerating into the finish line. We are at least a 90-minute football team, we don't just have 80 in us, we are a 90 plus team. The boys will keep going and going and going."
- Are you a Western Advocate subscriber? Then why not CLICK HERE and join our new Central West Sports Subscribers Facebook group?
Part of the drive for Bulldogs to work on their fitness levels has been the competition for places in the first XV.
Oxley has made a point of rewarding form and also drives players to back their skills and show their flair.
It has been an approach which has served Bulldogs well.
"Not one footballer has been given an opportunity through experience or what they've done in the past. Each Saturday they earn their jumper ... you need to gain the respect this year," Oxley said.
"I don't want it to be an arm wrestle on Saturday, unfortunately grand finals can become that and people can become afraid of making errors. But I just want our players to play.
"We have played under pressure for weeks and weeks and weeks now because we were pushing for the minor premiership and then home ground final.
"Now we can just go and play ... I want the players to play with the freedom and confidence they deserve to have given their performances throughout the year."
Backing flair and having the fitness levels to sustain effort is something Oxley knows his players will bring to Saturday's decider.
But the coach said they will need intensity as well.
"Without being too critical, we went and watched Cowra play Orange on Saturday and I was very disappointed at the lack of intensity Cowra had in that game," Oxley said.
"They gave Emus opportunities to play and when given an opportunity to play, they were unstoppable, clinical.
"We can't give them that time and space as they can't give it to us.
"We know how to defend against Emus, we know how to put pressure on Emus and that's what we'll be doing. They won't get to play football this Saturday."
Kick-off is 3.15pm.
