Group Nine president Jack Morton doesn’t expect any more clarity over Cootamundra’s player drain until after the competition’s annual general meeting.
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All 11 clubs will come together on November 1 and Morton anticipates more light will be shed on the situation then.
The Bulldogs have reached out to Group Nine to discuss their options but Morton believes it is too early for any commitments to be made.
“It’s hard to say whether they are going to not play first grade or not play ressies I’m not sure,” Morton said.
“There would be a fair way to get yet as it is very early in the silly season.
“There is a lot of water to go under the bridge yet and I think it is too early to be jumping to conclusions or making assumptions.”
Cootamundra didn’t fulfil its Sullivan Cup team this year and players retiring seem to be the biggest issue.
Morton said it wasn’t a position he wanted to see any club in.
“Especially Coota, they are an old Group Nine club, a pretty proud club, but it happens when you have a lot of people retiring at the same time,” he said.
“Sometimes when you get blood into a new group things change.”
Morton believes it is a worrying trend, especially in smaller centres.
“It’s a sign of the times in some way but it is a shame,” he said. “It is just getting harder in small towns and small towns with so many codes is the problem."
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