Some might find these words from Goulburn first grade coach Adam Kyle slightly surprising, following the Bulldogs’ seventh loss of the year on Saturday. 

However, for a team that has been equally blessed by talent and stricken by injury, Kyle knows it was a massive effort just to get a team on the park, round after round. 

“We had our backs to the wall again this week,” Kyle said. 

“I think we probably only had eight available first-graders fit to train throughout the week.

“Again, four reserve-graders backing up onto the bench, so we only warmed up with 13 players. 

“So, to come out and produce what we did, I was immensely proud, as I have been all year, of what we managed to deliver.” 

What the Bulldogs managed to deliver was a near upset over a fit and determined Yass Magpies side. 

Yass came into the match needing a win to maintain the slimmest hope of making the finals, but a typically gritty showing from Goulburn came within 10 seconds of putting an end to that dream. 

The momentum was with the Bulldogs from the start. Having scored in the first three minutes, thanks to a lapse in the Yass defence, Goulburn maintained that lead into half time, with the score at 12-6. 

The Bulldogs continued to build following the break, and the score reached 22-12 with seven minutes to go. 

However, a late burst from the Magpies and tries to Jesse Collins and Mitchell Edwards saw Yass take the lead right on the final buzzer. 

The final score was 22-28, and it capped off a disappointing year for Goulburn. 

“To go within 10 seconds of getting that win, [it] would’ve been a great way to finish the year,” Kyle said. 

It was another in a long list of performances that showed enormous potential for Goulburn, and Kyle is determined to continue building for next year. 

“We’ve still got that growth in us,” Kyle said. 

“Already we’ve started our recruitment drive and re-signing a few local players as we speak. 

“We’re certainly not going to wait until January/February to get this moving.

“We’ve started where we’re going for 2019 already.”