Bulldogs president David

Smorgon promises the ‘‘lid’’

will stay firmly on at Whitten

Oval in the wake of the club’s

stirring victory in the AFL’s

pre-season competition.

Saturday night’s memorable

40-point win over St

Kilda at Etihad Stadium gave

the Bulldogs their first

premiership of any sort since

1970, when they won the

league’s night series.

High-profile recruit Barry

Hall was best afield in the

final with seven goals, giving

him 17 goals in three preseason

games.

Smorgon said the team’s

focus will turn immediately to

the round-one game on March

28 at Etihad Stadium against

Collingwood, another side expected

to challenge for the

premiership this year.

‘‘I can assure you, the lid is

firmly on,’’ Smorgon said.

‘‘On Monday morning, the

boys are back — round one.

‘‘We’ve said from round one

of the NAB Cup, Collingwood

is our priority, we won’t do

anything to put ourselves at a

disadvantage, that’s what our

plan was.’’

The Bulldogs will have a

solid four-day block of

running from tomorrow to ensure

they are fully fit for the

Magpies.

Captain Brad Johnson

should be fit for round one

after missing the pre-season

final through injury, although

coach Rodney Eade is concerned

about his lack of

match practice.