GUNNEDAH co-coach John Woolaston hopes Saturday’s big TAFL win over the Tamworth Swans can keep his side motivated to make the top four after a training overhaul has seen the club turn their season around.
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Usual midfielder Brad Jenkinson was given a chance up front for the Bulldogs and turned it on, kicking nine goals in the 19.13.127 to 7.7.49 win.
Andrew George and Damien Baldwin both got in on the action with three each as well but it was Jenkinson who had a dog’s day out.
“We haven’t really had a solid goal kicker so thought we would give Brad (Jenkinson) a crack at it,” Woolaston said.
“He obviously did a great job and will stay up there.”
Jenkinson enjoyed the spoils of some silver service from Andy Mack and the other midfielders.
Ruckman Mack won plenty of ball before delivering some long searching kicks downfield to find his in-form forwards.
Both sides have recently had some changes at training, the Swans now being coached by Josh McKenzie and Gavin Knee, with Woolaston noticing a big difference in their opposition.
“They are playing with a lot better structure and are kicking more goals,” Woolaston said.
“A credit to our guys though because we pulled them up and turned them around well at the back.”
Andrew Chapman and Luke Cuygeven were big at the back, not only thwarting the Swans attack but feeding the ball back down the pitch as the Bulldogs turned on one of their better performances for the season.
Sitting in fifth with three rounds to play, the side needs to beat Narrabri next week to draw even with them in fourth and give themselves a chance at finals footy.
“We started a whole new training regime last week and it has paid off,” Woolaston said.
“A few of us sat down and discussed what we wanted to do this season and that was to play finals so we did an overhaul of our training.”
The Bulldogs have lifted their intensity and are focused on spreading the ball and moving the ball forward with greater control.
“This win should keep the boys motivated and coming to training and now we just have to see what happens,” Woolaston said.
Following Narrabri next week, the Bulldogs will meet the second-placed Tamworth Roos in a tough encounter in Tamworth before finishing with a game against the luckless Moree Suns.
“That game against the Roos will let us know whether we are ready for finals or not,” Woolaston said.
The Roos have a major semi-final spot wrapped up, although missed out on the chance to host it after going down to ladder leaders and premiers the New England Nomads 19.10.124 to 9.12.66.
In the other match, third- placed Inverell Saints just scraped home against Moree Suns 13.21.99 to 12.10.82.