POINT Cook has a clearer picture of where it stands in the Victorian Amateur Football Association division 4 pecking order and a better understanding of the steps that need to be taken to join the top two in an assault on the premiership.
The Bulldogs were beaten in back-to-back games by ladder-leading Hawthorn Amateurs and Eley Park Sharks but were not disgraced.
“We know exactly, after the last two weeks, where we sit in the big picture,” Bulldogs coach Daniel Fraser said.
“We’re not that far off the mark and I actually think we’re a lot closer than people think. If we can get that through the boys’ ears, I’ve got no doubt we’ll give this thing a shake at the end of the year.”
While other clubs are on their mid-season breaks with no football to be played on Queen’s Birthday weekend, the Bulldogs’ leaders voted unanimously to put up the ‘‘business as usual’’ sign.
They will train two nights at the request of Fraser – and there was a total buy-in.
“I suggested it and they sort of gobbled it up,” Fraser said. “I was quite happy to hear it.
“It’s good they realise they’ve got a bit of work to do. They know they’ve got to do it, they’re not going to take the soft option.
“They’re going to get their hands dirty and do the work that’s required to get over the top of those couple of good sides.”
The Bulldogs wound up 21-point losers to top side Eley Park at Whitehorse Reserve on Saturday.They got to within five points midway through the last term before the Sharks steadied with two late goals.
“We just didn’t have that polish and poise when it mattered in the last quarter to get over the line,’’ Fraser said.
The Bulldogs’ defensive unit of Ben Cox, Brendan Garrick, Ryan Barker, Matt Rocco, Jason Whitling and first-gamer Michael James were praised for restricting the Sharks to 76 points.
The Sharks didn’t help their own cause, booting 28 behinds, but Fraser insisted that figure was due to the incessant pressure applied by his backline.
“Our backline was really good to put that much pressure on them, to make them kick 28 behinds,” he said.
The Bulldogs, one of the most free-scoring teams last season, have some work to do to regain their attacking spark.
They had just two goalkickers, Ricky Munn with four and Andrew Auciello with three.
“We obviously need to find another couple of avenues to goal,’’ Fraser said.
“We want to rectify that over the next couple of weeks.”
Chris Phillips was outstanding in the ruck, while Shane Sinclair relished the slippery conditions.
In other games, Werribee Districts was outclassed by Old Brighton by 49 points in Premier B at Soldiers Reserve. Old Westbourne’s misery continued in division 3, booting just two goals, with both coming in the last quarter of a 112-point loss to UHS-VU away at Brens Oval.
