THE WESTERN Bulldogs may have finished 2014 on a disappointing note, but coach Brendan McCartney is still optimistic about the club's future.
Despite ending the year with seven wins, one less than in 2013, the Bulldogs finished higher on the ladder in 14th place.
The Dogs were competitive for most of the season, but fell away in the back end, losing five of their last six games, including the round 23 contest to an undermanned GWS side by six points.
The Wash-Up: Bulldogs' season review
"It's a tough end to the year, a disappointing last month," McCartney said at the Charles Sutton medal count on Wednesday night.
"There were chunks of games when it didn't look like us and the key things we stand for just weren't there. How did it finish? Feelings of frustration, annoyance and missed opportunities, but for me the future is still bright.
"We started to win more quarters of footy. We continued to introduce young people into our team who showed a greater capacity to play their position and handle the game.
"Our finish still lingers pretty fresh for most of us from the weekend. (It was a) game that could have been won and should have been won, but it can't overshadow the progress that we have made this year."
With a plethora of young talent at the kennel, the Bulldogs are still poised to push for a finals berth next season.
The likes of Tom Liberatore, who was awarded the Charles Sutton medal, Jack Macrae and young gun Marcus Bontempelli will continue to improve and drive the club forward, with stalwarts Matthew Boyd, Bob Murphy and skipper Ryan Griffen to guide them.
The Dogs announced prior to Wednesday night’s awards ceremony that former skipper Boyd had signed a new one-year contract extension and would play on in 2015.
McCartney said he believed the club would continue to rise through the ranks in the years to come if they had the "unity, conviction and bravery" to chase their goal.
"We want to get better, we will get better. We need to make some changes, changes that make us better - but the lessons of this year can't be lost," McCartney said.
"It should be a reminder, it should harden us, it should make us tougher so when we get in some close games next year, we find a way to get over the line. That's the sort of club I want to be part of."
Liberatore came away from the awards night at Crown Palladium, winning the club’s Most Courageous Player award, on top of his best and fairest medal.
Macrae was runner-up in the Sutton Medal count, while skipper Ryan Griffen came in third.
Retiree Daniel Giansiracusa was given a humorous but touching send off by teammate and close friend Murphy.
He received a standing ovation after an emotional speech in which he thanked the club, fans, his teammates and family for their support.
