Bunbury coach Troy Hollands says reducing burden on Joel Houghton has been side’s key focus over pre-season

Bunbury coach Troy Hollands says reducing the offensive burden his side put on spearhead Joel Houghton was one of their major focuses over the pre-season. The Bulldogs’ full-forward won the competition’s goal kicking award for the second time last year, slotting 74 majors in the home-and-away season. But he kicked only four goals over his side’s last three finals, including a pair of heavy losses to crosstown rivals South Bunbury in the second qualifying final and the grand final. A wide range of attacking threats were on display as the Bulldogs opened their season with a 13.10 (88) to 8.7 (55) win over Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault on Sunday, with captain Denholm King, Dylan Heasman and Fraser Gilchrist slotting two majors each. Hollands said he was pleased with how Houghton, who kicked four goals despite not troubling the scorers until the midway point of the third term, had brought his fellow forwards into the game. “Houghts is obviously a big target for us. During the finals last year, sides really targeted him, double-teamed him. That probably limited our scoring a little bit,” he said. “That’s something we’re really focused on this year, making sure we bring more guys into the game that can hit the scoreboard for us.” Bunbury did not recruit heavily over the off-season, with their leading vote-getter in last season’s Hayward Medal count Harry Creasey — who has returned to Perth — and the retired Jesse Gribble figuring among their departures. Their major inclusion Durak Tucker impressed through the middle of the ground on his senior SWFL debut against the Lions, with Hollands saying he was “very, very pleased” to have the Bulldogs junior back at the club. “He brings a lot of experience, he’s been on an AFL list, he’s played some WAFL football,” he said. “He’s still relatively young but he brings some experience as well as a youthful, energetic attitude as well, which is what our side is based on.” Now in his second year in charge of the Bulldogs’ league side, Hollands said he felt his team were now more comfortable with a game style he “flipped on its head” during his first year. “It found its feet quite well last year, we made a (grand final), but this year we’re not starting from a blank canvas,” he said. “I think we should definitely improve.” Having had a bye in round one, Hollands said he was pleased to see his side start their season in winning fashion despite feeling they were below their best. “The first game for the year is at a different tempo to any practice matches you’ll play,” he said. “The boys ground it out in the end.”