Now, with just one Saturday afternoon of rugby remaining this season, the second grade Bulldogs are in reach of that premiership.

But as they do battle Orange Emus in their decider at Ashwood Park, Dwyer's focus will be on another group of Bulldogs.

It will be the first XV who will themselves take on the Emus on grand final day, with Dwyer forming a key part of the Bulldogs' tight five.

"It wasn't really the plan at the start of the year, the plan was just to coach," Dwyer, who will line up in the second row on Saturday, said.

"But I kept doing a bit of fitness and got half fit and then played second grade, then sat on the bench for first grade. After playing first grade that one time, I got the bug again and sort of stayed there.

"There are a lot of blokes I've played a lot of football with that are still there like [Mark] Donnelly, Scott Johnson, Alex Weal - there's a lot of mates still there. There are a lot of young blokes coming through too - it's a really good mix of young and old at the moment.

"I really wasn't expecting so many of my mates being in first grade because they're so old, I'd expected them to be in seconds with me. But it sort of changed around a bit and it's worked out well."

While Dwyer, who won a colts premiership in his maiden season with Bulldogs in 2004, relished the chance to test himself in first grade once more, it did present a dilemma.

He was worried about letting down the second grade side he had put his hand up to coach.

But typical of the sort of spirit which has made Dwyer a proud Bulldog, others encouraged him to pursue one more Blowes Clothing Cup first grade premiership.

"Damien Grant has really stepped up, he's taken over as forwards coach for me and I've taken a back seat role and focused on first grade. Damien has stepped up for that last third of the season, he's really helped out, he was manager," Dwyer said.

"I did really learn a lot from Pip [McIntosh, co-coach] too, but he really pushed me, he said 'You've got a chance to win another first grade premiership, don't worry about second grade, we've got it under control. Step up if you want'.

"I really appreciated that ... I struggled with the fact I'd organised all these people to help me coach and then I went back to first grade.

"I've got plenty more years of coaching in me. It was really good of those guys. But it's definitely my last year though, the boots are going in the fire at the end, there's going to be no more first grade, no more second grade."

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Dwyer was part of the last Bathurst Bulldogs side to win a first grade premiership - the 2010 outfit that downed Narromine at Cale Oval.

While that Bulldogs team was a distinct underdog for the decider, this Saturday Dwyer and the Bathurst side will start as favourites.

Not only have they won three of their four games against Emus this season, but the Bathurst first XV has won 22 consecutive matches at Ashwood Park.

The second grade Bulldogs will also start as favourites in their decider against Emus.

They have lost just one game this season and while that 21-8 result did come at the hands of Emus, Bulldogs have scored 223 points in their last five outings, including a 40-24 major semi-final win over the Dubbo Kangaroos.

Dwyer knows how special they are as a playing group in their own right, while he pointed out that it's not just the Bulldogs who lace up their boots on Saturday who are important.

"Honestly, the second grade team we've got, they've lost just one game and they'd be giving some first grade sides a run, I really do believe that," he said.

"They've done really well and they're a good bunch of blokes too. Our club is really blessed, we've got in my opinion the best facilities in the Central West with the best board.

"They've run this great club which has promoted great numbers and it's a true testament to blokes like John Maynard, Greg Reid, Brian Roberson - those guys have done a great job running the operation and it's put us in good stead to always be up there.

"They do a hell of a lot of work those guys and that's just to name a few ... we're just really blessed with the old boys that we have, putting their hands up."

Kick-off in Saturday's grand final is at 3.15pm.