It might have been a heartbreaking end to their first finals appearance in seven years, but when the disappointment fades, coach James Saker knows Bell Park has taken giant strides in 2024.
Three weeks after being handed a 94-point hiding by South Barwon, the Dragons pushed last year’s runner-up to four points in a low-scoring slog at West Oval.
In Saker’s second year in charge, Bell Park improved from eighth on the ladder with eight wins and a draw in 2023 to 12 victories this season.
He is confident that a finals appearance for his young group – albeit a losing one – will hold them in good stead as the chase for a first premiership since 2011 ramps up.
“It’s a really positive trend,” Saker told krockfootball.live post-match.
“I think that’s worth 10 or 15 games to some of those kids to play a final like that.
“Once the dust settles, I think we’ll reflect positively on it.
“It’s really hard to do that now when there’s no tomorrow.”
Click below to hear the full interview with James Saker
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