After a first-up draw with Angaston and then a loss last Saturday to South Gawler, Barossa are sitting in seventh position on the premiership table.

“Straight after the game we had a meeting which went for about 50 minutes,” said new Bulldog coach Rian Nelson.

“It wasn’t a crisis meeting, just a frank and open discussion. It was a meeting between the players and the coach where everyone had their say.

“We look like a side which is down on confidence and my job is to instill this into our group.

“I believe we are now at our lowest ebb and we have to address any issues quickly before the season gets away from us.

“The simple fact is Barossa District is a game and a half behind where we planned.”

The Bulldogs have a bye this week, then play an away match against Nuriootpa in round four.

Nelson has instructed the players to get away from football this weekend.

A number of players are meeting in Adelaide and going for a run along a city beach.

Assistant coach and star player Daniel Thomas said the meeting would only successful “if the players act on what they said.”

“We have an immensely talented group but need to gel as a team in 2008,” Thomas said.

Former Gawler Central premiership coach Peter Vivian said it is very hard to come back in a 16-game season after a poor start.

“Losing early games creates extra pressure and the hardest thing to recover is the players’ confidence,” Vivian said.

BL&G president Robin Symes said he was delighted with the competitive start to the 2008 season.

“On Saturday, we had three teams who finished outside the four last year win, and two of them beat last year’s grand finalists,” Mr Symes said.

“The race for spots in the top four could be the most evenly-contested for many years.

“I’m sure there are not too many tipsters who would have had Angaston in the top four after round two.”