The Bulldogs find themselves on a 37-game losing streak and have started the 2026 campaign with two heavy defeats to Echuca and Mooroopna.
But at the heart of the red, blue, and white and helping to lead the charge in the rebuild out at Tatura Park is a young vice-captain keeping the faith and backing in better times ahead.
Junior product turned senior leader Xavier Hutchison has established himself as one of the heartbeats of what the club is hoping will be its turning point, and he outlined some of the key factors driving the positivity within the group.
“The vibes are really high,” Hutchison said ahead of the 2026 season.
“[We] had a great preseason, we’ve got a few new recruits and some old faces coming back, so everyone's excited to have another crack.
“We haven't really set a bar for us and we’re just keen to crack in and see how we go.
“Tom Sullivan and Jimmy Bennett have come back, who are some old faces, and Kieran Andrews is a good addition from Heidelberg, as well as a few boys such as Oscar Willis and Finn Radley.”
At just 22, Hutchison has already notched 72 games for Tatura at senior level.
A senior debutant in 2021, he now stands as a member of the Bulldogs leadership team, and he’s got no shortage of stalwarts to model his leadership style off.
“I’ve played [at the club] since I was about eight or nine, I think as soon as I could,” Hutchison said.
“I came through seniors through my top age year of thirds and played seniors ever since then.
“It’s been a few tough years but it's exciting times ahead.
“Mitch Elliott is a big one that I looked up to, just the way he went about it.
“He was a bit of a leader, he just put everyone on his back and tried to drag everyone through.
“And then Tom Sullivan, when he was here all those years ago, he was a bit the same.
“[Andrew Ciavarella} now as coach, I always looked up to him as a little small forward so it's good to play for him after what he's done for the club over the last 10 years.”
For the Bulldogs, the mission to clinch that drought-breaking win doesn’t get any easier with reigning premiers Kyabram next on the dance card at Tatura Park.
Finn Radley, Jimmy Bennett, Kieran Andrew, and Ben Darrou have all made their mark despite the pair of heavy defeats to kickstart the season, but the Bombers will come out hard after round two’s defeat to the Shepparton Swans.
Meanwhile, Shepparton will be hoping to extend its early winning streak to three games and remain undefeated when the Bears cross the causeway to Mooroopna, while Benalla and Euroa will each seek their first win in the clash at Benalla Showgrounds.
Shepparton United will face the Swans at Deakin Reserve while Rochester, coming off a 92-point defeat to Mansfield, is looking to rebound quickly against arch-rivals Echuca at Moon Oval.
The Eagles host Seymour in the High Country to set up a big round three of Goulburn Valley League action.
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