![Bulli's Miguel Clarino (left) coach Julio Miranda and Logan Mathie will look back on their 2023 campaign with mixed emotions. Pictures by Adam McLean, Anna Warr and Robert Peet Bulli's Miguel Clarino (left) coach Julio Miranda and Logan Mathie will look back on their 2023 campaign with mixed emotions. Pictures by Adam McLean, Anna Warr and Robert Peet](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4sZx2UeLhML2LRYLyd2FGM/60702c4c-9ab7-47b6-974c-abfb2cf329e7.jpg/r39_55_2968_1697_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As we run a microscope over Bulli's Premier League campaign, it certainly was one of two tales: a missed opportunity, but also provided great building blocks.
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The dust has now settled since the Balls Paddock club excited the competition. After finishing the regular season in fifth (11 wins, two draws, nine loss), Bulli was knocked out in the opening week of finals, falling 3-1 to Coniston at Macedonia Park on Saturday.
The defeat capped a truly up and down campaign for Bulli. The highs were really high - a 7-1 trouncing of last year's grand final winners Olympic and Ben McDonald finishing second in the Premier League's Golden Boot race - while the lows included a 1-0 defeat to Corrimal in July.
As Bulli now switch focus towards their 2024 campaign, head coach Julio Miranda shared his thoughts with the Mercury on his side's season - and where they need to improve on.
![Bulli forward Jarvis Patterson winds up for a shot on goal during their side's elimination final against Coniston on Saturday. Picture by Robert Peet Bulli forward Jarvis Patterson winds up for a shot on goal during their side's elimination final against Coniston on Saturday. Picture by Robert Peet](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4sZx2UeLhML2LRYLyd2FGM/1789d647-baf3-4a91-aecd-b10c5a6cc80a.jpg/r0_122_5472_3369_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
WHAT WENT RIGHT?
"I was pleased with the young guys that came into the squad, they really made a difference to our side," Miranda said.
"We also had a fairly strong group with all three teams (firsts, seconds and youth grades). Second grade were minor premiers and a lot of the time we trained together. With them coming first and us making finals, that's been a big positive."
![Ben McDonald scored four goals when Bulli belted Olympic by 7-1 earlier this year. Picture by Anna Warr Ben McDonald scored four goals when Bulli belted Olympic by 7-1 earlier this year. Picture by Anna Warr](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4sZx2UeLhML2LRYLyd2FGM/f0eb8d18-e267-4d69-9a12-f54fb02eb2ae.jpg/r0_328_4101_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
BEST VICTORY?
"It's hard to look past that win against Olympic but, football-wise, the best that we probably played was against Helensburgh in round one up there (Bulli won 5-0)," Miranda said.
"But it's been a good year, given what we had and the number of new players that came in."
![Bulli's Logan Mathie (right) battles with Coniston opponent Samuel Matthews for possession on Saturday. Picture by Robert Peet Bulli's Logan Mathie (right) battles with Coniston opponent Samuel Matthews for possession on Saturday. Picture by Robert Peet](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4sZx2UeLhML2LRYLyd2FGM/3f320b01-bd13-40aa-b0e0-0d49ef63206c.jpg/r0_499_5472_3588_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
SURPRISE PACKET?
"From my perspective, Logan Mathie has been a huge plus for us," Miranda said.
"I didn't know much about Logan when he first came out, I knew he'd been at the juniors with the (Wollongong) Wolves and (South Coast) Flame. I went on recommendation, and I'm glad that we took him in because he's a good individual and he can also play football."
![Bulli defender Yuki Hashimoto will be sorely missed by the club as he heads back home to Japan. Picture by Anna Warr Bulli defender Yuki Hashimoto will be sorely missed by the club as he heads back home to Japan. Picture by Anna Warr](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/4sZx2UeLhML2LRYLyd2FGM/bdfaa0f4-f1ad-4ad4-b439-c52d999d2965.jpg/r0_303_4700_3092_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
AREAS TO IMPROVE?
"We're going to need a player in our defensive third to replace our Japanese boy (Yuki Hashimoto), he's going back to Japan," Miranda said.
"Everyone also wants a good number 10. You can't always get the good ones though, especially if you don't have the funds and other clubs do."
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