WODONGA ruckman Matt Seiter believes finals are non-negotiable for the Bulldogs next season.
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After finishing with six wins in 2015 and nine this year, the Bulldog star echoed coach Dean Harding’s comments by saying the club needed to break into the top-five.
“It has to be finals next year,” Seiter said.
“Being 6-3 in the back half of the year and beating three finals sides, it’s finals or a failed year in my book.
“If we don’t make finals it would be a backward step.”
Wodonga finished only percentage behind fifth-placed Wodonga Raiders and is confident of keeping its list together over the off-season.
Several key players including Seiter, co-captain Jackson Russell and McKye Turner recently signed three-year deals.
Seiter said it was attitude rather than personnel that would break or make the side next season.
“I think we are in good shape,” Seiter, 29, said.
“We need to capture what we had in the second half of this year and a lot of that comes down to attitude.
“It’s a cliche but sticking to structures and playing roles is really important for us as you can have five or six out with injuries and still beat good sides.
“We lost Tom Anson and Josh Hicks at the weekend but two guys came in and we didn’t need to rely on individuals.”
Seiter, who has played 60 matches for the Bulldogs, missed the celebrations after Saturday’s thrilling win over Wangaratta to attend a premiership reunion at Heidelberg.
He played in two senior and reserve grade premierships for the Northern Football League club after debuting at Wodonga in 2005.
The reigning Bulldog best and fairest winner said he enjoyed playing predominantly in the ruck at John Flower Oval this season.
“It’s been a bit of an up and down year in terms of having two weeks off and going overseas and things like that, but in terms of performance it’s been better because of the role I played,” he said.
“I rucked and played a kick behind the play to help our defence which saved my legs a bit.
“I didn’t have to go forward as much and play centre half-forward.”
Wodonga blooded a number of youngsters this season with Louie Miller, Harry McKimmie, Harry Pole, Harry Jones, George Haynes, Reed Jackson, Nic English and Will Stefani earning opportunities.
“Those boys and the natural improvement and progress of the next tier in Zak Collins, Bob Russell, McKye Turner, Aaron Proctor, Dan Wortmann and Joel Heiner creates a fair bit of excitement,” Harding said.
Veteran Jarrod Twitt is the only confirmed departure.