It's been a hot minute since we caught up with captain Mike Bocian, so we put the extended bye break to good use and caught up with him about the 2024 AFL Ontario season, and, the upcoming finals series.
It's been an absolutely incredible season to date, with the Dingos finishing top of the ladder for the first time in 19 years - what for you has been the highlight of the year to date?
There hasn’t been one singular highlight moment for me, because there have been just so many incredible moments both on and off the field. We’ve achieved and number of team goals set out from the pre season footy camp, and many of the boys have achieved a number of personal accolades which is also great for us as a club.
But, if I have to choose I’d have to say it’s going into Round 1 against the Rebels. There was a lot of excitement and anticipation and a lot of unknowns of how we would play as a team against one of the top teams in the league. But from the first bounce you could tell we were on! And we haven’t looked back.
Each week we’ve come out firing on all cylinders building off of the previous game; and I expect us to continue to do the same in finals.
You have been around the club a while now and have captained the squad for 6 years, how has this team differed to previous teams you have played in or led?
Stepping back and looking where the club was a handful of years ago and where we are now, it’s night and day.
There were a few dark years for the club where we would have 6 to maybe 10 guys at training, wondering if we would have a team to field each Saturday. It even reached a point where a few years ago we had to forfeit finals because we didn’t have enough to play.
Now every training session we’re averaged 15-20 plus guys and have at least 30 available to play each week. The commitment and support to the club and each other has been so heartwarming to see from not only the boys but from their loved ones and the numerous followers we’ve been getting on our socials, from Australians and a number of the AFL teams as well.
Finally, heading into finals now, what is the message to the boys after such a strong season?
A new season of footy has begun and it’s time for us to take care of some unfinished business.
The Toronto Dingos will be taking on the Toronto Rebels in the first semi-final on Saturday September 7th at 12pm, with the winning team booking their ticket to the 2024 AFL Ontario Grand Final.
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