And Frys, who has signed on at the Bulldogs’ helm for the next two years, is confident the senior side can achieve its first triumph since way back in round two of the 2011 campaign.

Smythesdale – when known as Illabarook - beat Skipton by 15 points in just its second game since crossing from the defunct Lexton Plains competition. Since then, the Bulldogs have been beaten in 83-straight matches.

Frys believes the team made inroads during an improved 2015 season, but now the focus was on trimming the margins even further, competing week in, week out and landing a long-awaited success.

“Number one is to win that first game and then whatever that brings after that, future will tell,” Frys said.

Frys said he would see the season as a failure if the Bulldogs were not able to break through for at least one victory.

“It’s vital that we win a game of footy (next) year,” he said.

Frys said his group believes that success will happen next season and hopes his decision to accept a two-year deal as coach can help with stability within the club.

The reappointment will see Frys, who had an assistant role to Greg Middleton during this year’s interleague campaign, head into his second and third full years as senior coach.

“I think it shows commitment from the top and hopefully that sort of filters down through the playing group,” Frys said.

Frys will be assisted next year by Ash Carli, who returned to the field following a successful appeal into a life ban late last season.

He played a total of four games for the Bulldogs in 2015 and will effectively be a recruit for the side in 2016.

Frys said the club had secured “95 per cent” of last season’s senior list and early pre-season recruiting had been promising, having already landed a couple of signatures.

He said the club’s budget didn’t really allow recruiters to chase a “big fish”, with the focus more being on establishing a list with consistent contributors across the ground.

“We spoke about the big fish and if that comes along, it comes along, but we’re not going to go out of our way to recruit a big fish, so to speak,” Frys said.

“Ideally, we’d have a big centre half forward and a big full forward and a couple of key backs, but at the end of the day, your budget allows you what you can do.”

The Bulldogs have appointed a new committee, headed by Dave Tuohy, who has replaced Nick Gray as president.

Meanwhile, there is still four Central Highlands clubs yet to confirm a senior coach for 2016.

Reigning premiers Springbank, Ballan, Clunes and Carngham-Linton are still to reveal those that will take on the roles.

North Ballarat City is the only Ballarat league club still chasing a replacement.