The Hustlers: Ciraldo's new Breed of Bulldogs

When it comes to recruitment, Head Coach Cameron Ciraldo has several non-negotiables, none more prevalent than good character.

“We did a lot of homework on the character of who we were recruiting and what sort of teammates they were. The guys we brought in have great character, love their footy and have also been ‘connectors’ of people who’ve helped us build the team spirit we were after.

“I think you can see that in the way they play. They love their footy, they love preparing for footy and just love being around each other. It’s also important that our kids coming through our pathways system are students of the game and loving what they do."

This year local juniors Bailey Hayward and Lipoi Hopoi have made their debuts and many more are being molded under the guidance of Club and football legends, Josh Jackson and Mick Potter in the Jersey Flegg and NSW Cups.

“One thing our staff has done really well is create an environment to help those relationships flourish, but at the end of the day, the players have made that decision to come together as a group and have put in the time and energy.”

We can’t be the Dogs of War and we can’t be The Entertainers. All we can do is go out and hustle as hard as we can. If we do that and we’re playing to our strengths then we will be doing it in our own style.

The Bulldogs ran 15th last season. This year, the Club has won ten games and are currently sit in fifth place with six rounds remaining before finals. 

While the Club eyes it's first finals berth since 2016, Ciraldo isn't letting the team get a head of its self. Instead focusing each week on development and culture, he credits much of the sides steady focus, connection and commitment to improvement to the 2024 recruits.

“After last year, we had to bring some new guys in and I can’t praise those new guys enough. They have changed the culture of the whole place and have done a remarkable job, on and off the field so far, but we still have a long way to go.

“Obviously Stephen Crichton was the big one. He and Jaeman Salmon came from Penrith, so I had previous relationships with them. They came to us saying they wanted to come here, rather than us chasing people all the time.

“Then we had Kurt Mann, Jake Turpin, Drew Hutchison, Josh Curran, Connor Tracey, all proven first graders who were lucky enough for us to be on the market and keen to be part of what we were building.

“There were other guys – Blake Taaffe, Bronson Xerri and Poasa (Faamausili) – who came here looking for an opportunity and have done really well. The Club hasn’t moulded them together, the players have done that.”

While Canterbury was widely criticised for leaking 32 points a game last year, that figure has been halved to just 16 this season.

“Same system, same training, same drills but all I can say is the guys that have come in, and the players that have been here for 12 months, have helped change the culture around our defence,” Ciraldo said.

“Defence is culture. It’s an insight into how you do things and how hard you’re willing to work. They really believe it and work hard for each other. They do it together.”

Canterbury players are aware of the Club’s history – it's a large mantra for the Club: Respect the past, create the future. But this side under Ciraldo won’t look backwards, only forward.

“We really respect our past – the Dogs of War (during the mid-1980s) and The Entertainers (1980) – and we talk about them and look at them a lot,” Ciraldo said. “It’s important our guys know the history of this Club.

“But we can’t be the Dogs of War and we can’t be The Entertainers. All we can do is go out and hustle as hard as we can. If we do that and we’re playing to our strengths then we will be doing it in our own style.”

The Bulldogs play Canberra this Sunday before an 18,000+ sellout at the Club’s spiritual home, Belmore Sports Ground.