Saying the side still has a lot of room for improvement on attack and defence, he said the outcome of the last trial match wasn’t what they wanted but the way they backed themselves was good.
He said they would focus on improvement and having a defensive mindset going into games.
Crichton was highly praised for the impact he brought to the club’s pre-season camp, mostly through his strong communication.
“I just want to lead with my actions,” he said.
“I’ve been at a successful club and I’ve seen what good leaders look like and I’ve learnt a lot from the older boys that I was with.
“Going into the camp I knew straight away the boys were nervous and I knew my communication and leadership could bring the boys up a bit and make them excited.
“I was looking at the back end of the camp and where this team could go and I knew they needed a leader to get them through the camp. So, I just kind of took on that role from the start.”
When asked what it means to be a Bulldog, Crichton reflected on his first experiences in coming to the club: “I just listened to a few of the boys that have been at the club for a while about how much it means to them and it hit me. It’s a community club, it’s a family club. They really do care about their fans.
“I see it as hard-working, proper Dogs. Hungry. I look at the past players, Sonny Bill, Willie Mason, James Graham, players like that. They just did it without hesitation. They were just hard Dogs.
“That’s what I see the club as and that’s what Ciro [Ciraldo] is trying to build here – you put the team first, you go out there and you play your heart out. That’s what being a Bulldog means.”
The club also thanked Matt Burton and Reed Mahoney for their outstanding leadership and dedication as last year’s on-field Captains.
“Reed and Burto’s professionalism and commitment to this team needs to be acknowledged and commended. They very much remain leaders in this group,” Coach Cameron Ciraldo said.
Continued page 20
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