The Bulldogs rise in the back end of 2013 was largely due to the coaching panel’s tireless work teaching and supporting the developing group, and this looks set to continue with specialist coaches Cameron Mooney and Matthew Scarlett increasing their coaching commitments by an extra day a week this season.

Along with Scarlett, dual premiership star Cameron Mooney jumped at the chance to continue at the kennel and said the team’s progress is cause for Bulldogs fans to feel positively about the Club’s direction.

“I do see a little bit of excitement running through there,” Mooney told SEN this morning.

“I hope people do [get excited], it’s going to be exciting times over the next couple of years, but let’s just be patient too,” he said.

One player to have benefited from Mooney’s tutelage is forward Liam Jones, who made some gains in 2013, but will look to improve yet again after working on his deficiencies throughout the pre=season.

“He [Jones] has always needed to work on his engine, and he has been doing that,” Mooney said.

“His talent is unbelievable – especially the way he can explode out of the blocks and we’ve seen him jump and take his marks.”

“You can’t kick four and five goals in an AFL game if you don’t have talent.”

Mooney will continue to work with the forwards this season, and said spots in the forward line will be hotly contested, particularly with the improvement of the group along with the acquisition of former Essendon forward Stewart Crameri and the impending return of Tom Williams.

“Bringing in an another exceptional key forward [Crameri] doesn’t mean guys like Tommy Campbell, Jakey Stringer and Liam Jones are guaranteed a spot anymore, and Jarrad Grant,” Mooney said.

“They’ve really got to fight for their spot… that’s going to be the big positive from the Dogs’ point of view.”