FOR anyone who has ever listened to Dean Oxley talk about coaching, it is not hard to tell the Bathurst Bulldogs mentor is passionate about setting goals for his players then driving them to achieve their best.
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And when it comes to his own goals - well that passion and desire to succeed intensifies further.
So on Saturday afternoon when Oxley watched his men hold off Orange Emus to win the Blowes Clothing Cup first grade premiership - something Bulldogs had not managed since 2010 - it was a proud moment for him.
From the very instant Oxley put his hand up to coach the Bathurst Bulldogs first XV, that was his goal.
In his first season at the helm he came close - Bulldogs fell to Emus on grand final day - but in 2019 his men lost just once on their way to glory.
"It's been a big year, it's been a stressful year, it's been quite a hard year. There's a lot of work put in, and you've got to keep putting that effort in," Oxley said.
"The players buying in was a big deal because I challenged them, I challenged the club actually, and at times it was quite challenging for me. But we got there and the reward is really big."
Saturday's triumph added to another personal goal Oxley had set himself for 2019 - guiding the Central West Blue Bulls representative side to the Caldwell Cup. It also added to the country championship he won as a player in 1996.
READ MORE: Speedy Howard enjoys a grand final double
Coaches can only give instruction, players have to respond, so without that response I wouldn't be here.
- Dean Oxley
But Oxley, who was named the Blowes Clothing Cup's coach of the year for the second consecutive season, rated Saturday's win as his finest as a mentor.
"Coaching is so much harder. I had a little bit of a think about what I wanted to achieve as a coach and wining the Caldwell Cup was one of those and winning a grand final for Bulldogs was the icing on the cake," Oxley said.
"The Bulldogs grand final is so much harder, the Blowes Cup is so much harder than the Caldwell Cup. It's a hard road and we got there.
"This award is incredibly special, it's been a wonderful year for me and I've loved it. Coaches can only give instruction, players have to respond, so without that response I wouldn't be here."
