Wollongong Bulldogs launch AFL South Coast campaign with five teams

As the AFL South Coast competition expands to three men’s and two women’s divisions, the Bulldogs are booming.

“We’ve outgrown our training area,” he says with a laugh. “It’ll be the same with our functions, if they all come and bring a plus-one, we won’t have enough room. But it’s a good problem to have.”

For the second consecutive year, the Dogs fell in the preliminary final, last year only managing 3.8 in a 33-point loss to the Lions, who were then beaten by the Power in the grand final.

Simply out gunned by a lack of size and forward targets. A stark contrast the years of dominance of winning four consecutive flags between 2012-15.

But Murray is confident the new influx of talent will provide the firepower they need.

“We’ve definitely got more size,” he said. “We’re going to have a couple of intra-club matches and work out how it all fits together for us.

“But I certainly think we can improve on some of the weaknesses we had and be a better team than last year.”

Murray will have an early indication of how they match up against the top teams when they meet the Lions in the season opener at Keira Oval on April 6.

The Bulldogs’ extraordinary depth has resulted in fielding two women’s teams, after making the preliminary final in the inaugural season last year.

“It’s been great,” Murray said. “A lot of the girls learned a lot about the game last year and this year has been about developing that skill base to the next level. They’ve had a really good base of pre-season training, so we’re expecting they’ll be very competitive again this year.”

Round 1 Fixtures

(April 6)

Men

KIAMA v FIGTREE at Bonaira Oval (2.15pm), BOMADERRY v NORTHERN DISTRICTS at Artie Smith Oval (2.15pm), BULLDOGS v LIONS at Keira Oval (2.30pm), SHELLHARBOUR bye