The Bulldogs’ 2025 campaign ended with a 46-26 semi-final loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.
Cameron Ciraldo’s men went from first after 16 rounds to out of the finals in straight sets.
The mid-season changes to his spine have been a lightning rod for criticism.
But Ciraldo insists he wouldn’t change a thing about how the Bulldogs handled the year.
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Ciraldo has no regrets
“No I wouldn’t change a thing,” Ciraldo said post-game.
“This is all part of the journey. There’s been some tough times this year. Our guys have had to deal with a lot more scrutiny than probably some other places and the way they’ve stuck together and handled it and just kept building a really strong culture. We’re incredibly proud.”
He conceded their stint at the top of the table was boosted by byes, but maintained belief in the project.
“Our season was weird. We were coming first but we had a couple of byes there that helped us sit in that position.”
Young guns the silver lining
Ciraldo was quick to highlight the performances of Lachlan Galvin and Bailey Hayward, who stood tall despite the heavy defeat.
“For Lachie to go out there today and attack the game the way he did, I thought he was one of our top players out there,” Ciraldo said.
“I thought Bailey Hayward was one of our top players out there when he got on the field. Those two guys are tough, tough characters. They’re going to play a massive part in our future.”
Bulldogs’ resilience
Despite being blown off the park early, Ciraldo praised his side’s willingness to fight.
“These guys, I’m just so proud of them throughout the year when they’ve had to face adversity,” he said.
“They never stop fighting, they never give in, they never get torn apart.”
The Bulldogs now turn their attention to 2026, with Ciraldo confident the tough lessons of this year will build a stronger, more experienced squad.