New senior coach Zac Tisdale isn’t beating around the bush.
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He wants to improve on Daylesford’s strong 2017 Central Highlands Football League campaign.
And to do that, the Bulldogs must reach a preliminary final.
Tisdale and the Bulldogs, under former coach Marcus Goonan, finished eighth last year before defeating Waubra in the elimination final. The side then went awfully close to upsetting Buninyong a week later – leading by 20 points at three quarter time – but was eventually bundled out of the premiership race.
“I think we’ve got to aim to win a semi-final,” Tisdale told The Courier.
“We’ve been to two semis and last year we really pushed and probably should have won that.
“That’s the goal for now, try to get into a preliminary final. I know last year we had the opportunity to play (arch rivals) Hepburn in a prelim, which would have been massive.”
Tisdale has taken charge of a Daylesford side that has regained the services of past premiership coach Phil Davis.
Davis led the Bulldogs to a memorable grand final win over Waubra in 2007 to claim its first senior flag since 1961.
He isn’t heavily involved this year, but has returned to the club to assist Tisdale as a coaching mentor.
“The support from the club and all the committee and stuff has been such a huge helping hand,” Tisdale, a playing coach, said.
“And obviously having Phil there to just bounce ideas off is amazing.”
The Bulldogs will be without some of its top-end talent from 2017.
Gone is Cam Lovig, Cam Ralph and Pat Rowe, all players that had a big impact in the Bulldogs’ success.
Of the new faces, former Daylesford player Dylan Muscat is back and will add bite to the forward line.
The Bulldogs have a tough start to the new year with games against 2017 grand finalists Beaufort and Hepburn in the opening two rounds. A rematch against Waubra then awaits the side in round three.
Q: What do you see as your key on-field strength?
Probably our midfield. We really want to generate a lot of ball from the middle this year.
Q: What is your key message as coach in 2018?
Confidence and belief. I think a lot of boys realised we can match it with anyone after last year's finals and now it’s about taking it further.
Q: How have the pre-season preparations gone?
Could always be better, but trainings have been fast and furious, and the boys are starting to embrace a new game plan.
Q: Which player are you most excited about?
All the young guys who are going to have another year of senior footy under their belts. The sky’s the limit for a lot of them and it’s going to be exciting to watch.
Q: Which is the team to beat this season?
We’ve got Beaufort and Hepburn in the first two rounds so I’ll know for sure after round two.
The Bulldogs’ Fact File
COACH
Zac Tisdale (new)
2017 SEASON
8th position
Eight wins, eight losses
Leading goal-kicker: Sebastian Walsh, 38 goals
Best and fairest: Joel Cowan
Geoff Taylor Medal top vote-getters: Joel Cowan 20, Sam Winnard 9, Zac Tisdale 8, Sebastian Walsh 5, Ken Cummings 4, Cameron Lovig 2, Xavier Walsh 1
KEY ARRIVALS
Dylan Muscat (West Brunswick)
KEY DEPARTURES
Cam Lovig (East Point), Pat Rowe (Trentham), Cameron Ralph (Toronto Dingoes)
THE FIXTURE
R1: Beaufort (h)
R2: Hepburn (h)
R3: Waubra (a)
R4: Rokewood-Corindhap (a)
R5: Skipton (a)
R6: Creswick (h)
R7: Carngham-Linton (a)
R8: Clunes (h)
R9: Smythesdale (a)
R10: Learmonth (h)
R11: Newlyn (a)
R12: Springbank (a)
R13: Bungaree (h)
R14: Gordon (a)
R15: Buninyong (h)
R16: Ballan (a)
R17: Dunnstown (h)
THE VERDICT
Daylesford only snuck into finals by the skin of its teeth last season, but then won an elimination encounter and nearly pinched the semi.
While it doesn't appear the senior list is any better in 2018, you can still expect the Bulldogs to win plenty of games and be contending for a top eight spot.
