NFL 2018: Reigning premier Bundoora prepared to take long road to more success

COACH Ricky Dyson says Bundoora is capable to traversing the long road to glory as it looks to become the first team since 2009 to claim consecutive Division 1 premierships.

Liam Byrne of Bundoora gathers the ball from a pack during the NFL football match between Bundoora and Whittlesea played at Yulong Park Bundoora on Saturday 4th August, 2018.

COACH Ricky Dyson says Bundoora is capable to traversing the long road to glory as it looks to become the first team since 2009 to claim consecutive Division 1 premierships.

The Bulls overcame an indifferent start to their flag defence to finish fourth on the Northern Football League ladder, booking an elimination final date with Greensborough.

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Bundoora has only triumphed in one elimination final in three attempts since 2014, defeating Northcote Park by 66 points in 2016.

Dyson pointed to the Bulls’ 2013 and 2017 premierships as evidence they were capable of achieving success by winning four finals.

“It’s definitely tough. But the last two times we have won, we have played four finals,” he said.

“We have just got to prepare ourselves really well, physically and mentally, for each final.”

Bundoora’s Liam Byrne skips clear of a would-be tackler. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

Bundoora lost a semi-final to Montmorency in 2013 but turned the tables in the decider, while it was beaten by Northcote Park in a qualifying final last year before winning three do-or-die games.

“Whether you get the week off or not doesn’t really matter I don’t think,” Dyson said.

Dyson said the Bulls’ victory over Greensborough in Round 17, which sealed the fate of both sides, would mean little on Sunday.

“We both would have learned a bit about each other,” he said.

“I don’t think there will be any edge. We’ve had one (victory) each throughout the season and that is going to set up for a really good game.”

Midfielders Andrew Sturgess and Josh Iacobaccio are both expected to feature this weekend after not playing against the Boro two weeks ago.

Bundoora coach Ricky Dyson is not daunted by having to challenge from an elimination final.

Bundoora’s premiership hopes were under threat when it limped to 2-5, but it won eight of its next 10 matches to seal a finals berth.

“It’s nice for the players to get some reward for a pretty good back end of the season,” Dyson said.

“We started really slowly and had to reassess and change a few things. It has paid off. “They’ve worked really hard so it is good to see them get rewarded with the chance to play off at Preston again.”

The Bulls came from 32 points down to defeat North Heidelberg 9.21 (75) to 10.4 (64) on Saturday.