Point Cook is steeled for a deep run in the Victorian Amateur Football Association division 4 finals series.
The Bulldogs make no secret of their desire for promotion, which will be theirs if they reach the grand final.
Bulldogs coach Ian Denny believes the club is ready to move up a division.
“We’re really keen to make sure we get promoted up a division first and foremost,” he told Star Weekly.
“We’ve played practice matches against division three clubs and weren’t out of our depth in any of those games.”
“People think division three is a great step up – well it’s not.”
Getting to the grand final at the first time of asking will be easier said than done. Point Cook has two chances to do so, starting with a second semi-final clash with Westbourne Grammarians at St Bernard’s College on Saturday.
Westbourne will enter the big game on the back of a 110-point win over Mount Lilydale, completing a perfect 16-0 home-and-away campaign.
The Warriors acknowledge Westbourne as being the stand-out team in the home-and-away rounds, but are hellbent on ensuring that does not continue into the finals.
“They haven’t been under much pressure this year,” Denny said.
“The last time we played against them was only decided by a couple of goals, so we think we can match it with them.”
Point Cook had a tough pre-finals hit-out, overcoming North Brunswick by 12 points at Saltwater Reserve.
The Bulldogs led by 23 points at three-quarter time, but the Bulls made it a tight finish.
“They got within a goal and probably should’ve even been in front halfway through the last quarter,” Denny said.
“We had to dig deep and you’re going to have to dig deep at some stage during the finals, so it was a good test.”
