The start of the Group Nine season may be still over four months away but the Cootamundra Bulldogs have already begun preparations for their return to the competition after re-signing many of their players for next season.
The Cootamundra outfit have been on a signing spree, locking up local campaigners Jacob Maher, Joe Ward, James Paterson, Cooper Emmonson, Beratabua Biutisuva and Pateresio Vota ahead of the 2025 season.
Bulldogs First Grade Coach David Buttriss (pictured above right) said that while the club has focused on re-signing locals rather than chasing out of town stars so far this off-season, laying the bedrock for a strong squad has been the priority.
“Everyone that was on deck last year had a great attitude and I feel like if we can keep all those blokes heading into Group Nine next year that will be a big plus for us,” he said.
“We have already spoken to pretty much the whole playing group from last year.
“Obviously going into Group Nine we do want to try and go to another level, maybe train that bit harder, be that bit more professional and I feel like that group from last year have that attitude and can do that.”
After a strong campaign in the George Tooke Shield ended in a second week finals exit, the club, boasting a 30-man roster and a sponsorship deal with the Cootamundra Country Club’s new owners Wyong Leagues, decided to make the jump back to first division football in order to give their players a game each weekend.
“We had close to 30 people on the books last year and pretty much all those are ready to rock again,” Buttriss said.
“There’s a little bit of chat around town that there’s some more guys going to come back for a run.
“The Samoan and Fijian boys that moved to town last year done a great job in helping us in the Tooke in our last season, and I think there are a few more boys around town that are living here with those guys that want to put on the Bulldog jersey next year as well.”
As for what specific roles the club is looking to fill now that the majority of the roster has committed either verbally or on paper for next season, Buttriss said that the focus is on recruiting some big forwards which will be necessary to counter Group Nine’s bigger sides.
“We are looking at maybe trying to sign a couple of big boys to help us through the middle with those Group Nine packs,” he said.
“Two big boys would really help our squad for next year going into Group Nine.
“It’s probably a bit more size and a bit more work that you need to put in with Group Nine.
“A couple of marquee signings, potentially front rowers, would really help our boys that we have got there at the moment.
“We’ve got a younger squad, we have a lot of talent there, but probably just a bit of size is all we are lacking.”
With the increased public and media interest and speculation about the Group Nine competition compared to the George Tooke Shield, the Bulldogs will no doubt be under more pressure to perform as the eyes of the district look to their beloved football side each weekend.
That pressure could cause even the most experienced coach to alter their methods, and while the thought of such adversity has crossed Buttriss’ mind, he is prepared to simply increase the intensity and honesty in the group whilst backing in the methods that saw the side have great success throughout the GTS regular season in 2024.
“I sort of thought about that only a couple of weeks ago, and I think it’s just a matter of we have to train that little bit harder and probably be a little bit more dedicated and a little bit more professional in a way,” he said.
“Me as a coach I would probably just like to be a little bit more honest with the boys, I still have a great connection, but if they need to work harder in an area I really want to put that to them and make it a challenge because if you are not putting in those hard yards things aren’t going to go the way we want them to.”
As for the Bulldogs’ two trial dates, which were revealed by the Times last week, Buttriss said that both will be critical for the club, acting as a barometer and a test of their mettle before the new dawn back in the big leagues.
“I think heading up to Wyong will be a really good experience to kick start the season for us,” he said.
“Wyong has three different grades and I think we will be playing one of the lower ones but [it will be good] for us to play them and see where we are at, and we can sit back and watch their stronger grades play throughout the day.
“We will come back home and a few weeks later post a full card against the Junee Diesels so that way everyone gets a trial game.
“I spoke to Vano [Simon Vanzanten] a couple of weeks back and we really want to keep the Terry Douglas Cup going.
“Terry was a big part of both clubs and it would be really good to pay the respects to him and keep those trial games or games throughout the year for the Terry Douglas Cup.”
– Tallon Smith