Cameron Ciraldo is confident that the Bulldogs are “capable of being a top-four side” as they approach their first finals series since 2016.
The Bulldogs secured their fourth consecutive win with a 30-10 victory over the Dolphins and are currently in fifth place. Their impressive rise this season, having won nine of their last 11 games, has them well-positioned for the finals.
With a spot in the finals almost guaranteed, the Bulldogs are also eyeing a top-four finish, as they are level on points with the fourth-placed Sharks.
When asked about the possibility of finishing in the top four, Ciraldo tempered expectations by noting, “It’s not really in our control.”
Ciraldo allowed himself a moment to dream about a top-four finish.
“That’d be nice; I think we’re capable of being a top-four team,” he said. “But there are still aspects of our game that we need to improve, as top-four teams excel in those areas.”
Defense has been a key part of the Bulldogs’ strategy, and it was evident again in Bundaberg on Saturday, with Ciraldo’s side keeping their opponents scoreless in the second half for the seventh time this season.
“I didn’t realize that—it’s pretty cool,” Ciraldo said when informed of the statistic during the post-game press conference.
“It’s a testament to how fit we are. I just told the boys it’s a huge credit to our performance team for the hard work they put in during pre-season.
“For the boys, it’s a great stat to know and appreciate. Our strong defense gives us a calmness in our game. Our defensive record is improving each week, thanks to coaches Chad Randall and Luke Vella, who are putting in a lot of effort on our last-play defense, and the players are really buying into it.”
While the Bulldogs have now surpassed the Panthers as the top defensive team in the league, it’s their attacking prowess that has been grabbing attention recently, with the team averaging 30 points per game over the past month.
“Since the last bye, we’ve had to tweak a few things and make adjustments to fit our players,” Ciraldo said about the team’s attack. “We’re a new team—starting the year with 10 new players—so it was always going to involve some trial and error.
“But I believe we’ve found our rhythm over the past five or six weeks.”
Crichton attributed the improvement in attack to “connection.”
“At the start of the year, we were a bit hesitant, hoping someone would step up. Now, we’re in a position where if there’s a player to pass to, we can get them the ball,” he said. “Beyond that, it’s about repeating our drills in training and having trust in the players around you.”
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