A committed pre-season has Bundoora primed for another shot at the Northern Football League premiership in 2013.
Several recruits, strong numbers and a long summer have the Bulls confident they can bounce back from their disappointing semi-final loss last year.
Bundoora went into the 2012 season a raging favourite after winning the 2011 flag, and opened the season with six consecutive wins.
But injuries and poor form began to take their toll and the Bulls lost seven of their remaining 12 matches.
They still finished third on the ladder but lost to eventual premiers Northcote Park in a semi-final.
‘‘The playing group felt disappointed that we let the club and its supporters down last year after winning the flag in 2011,’’ says manager Darryl Richards.
Several Bundoora players began training as a group in October last year before pre-season started in November.
‘‘The boys really rallied and started doing unsanctioned club training,’’ Richards says.
‘‘It showed how passionate they felt after feeling like they had let people down.
It’s meant that we’ve been able to build huge momentum in the playing list.
‘‘The training sessions have been very strong and we’ve had some fantastic weather in Melbourne so they’ve been at the highest level.
’’ The club has been buoyed by the arrival of former Essendon player Ricky Dyson over the off-season.
Dyson played 114 games for Essendon until he was delisted by the club at the end of last season.
‘‘Ricky has been a great pick-up and he’s been a great leader as well,’’ Richards says.
‘‘He has even taken a few of the under-19s players under his belt.
‘‘To have him along with other former AFL players like Cameron Cloke and Gary Moorcroft, and Brayden Shaw as well, has just been excellent.
When you have ex-AFL players around it really takes training to another level, it makes the younger guys strive to achieve more.
’’ The Bulls have also recruited former Coburg VFL player Nathan Thomas, highly regarded on-baller Chris Varsamakis from Eltham, former Oak Park ruckman Aaron Lerm and backman Michael Ryan from Lower Plenty.
‘‘We’re quietly confident of having a good year if everyone stays fit and on the park,’’ Richards says.
