The Dragons won’t take a side to tackle Young on Saturday after failing to find sufficient numbers.

Saturday games clash with Australian rules and rugby union and the Dragons have come off second best.

Secretary Mark Hughes said the club lost six players to other codes and when added to their injury toll it was unfeasible to take a side to Alfred Oval.

“We’ve always been against it (Saturday football) right from the get go, but there is more and more allocated to Saturdays every time a draw comes out,” Hughes said.

“Everyone is just mindful of their own junior league and clashes with other codes.

“It affects us probably more as Young, Tumut, Gundagai, and Coota to a certain extent, don’t have AFL as an opposition.

“If it exists in their towns it is at a very low level and it is quite strong in Temora.

“Kids grow up doing both and are happy to play both if it is Saturday and Sunday.

“That is our issue.”

Temora are scheduled to play four of their 16 games this season on Saturday.

Group Nine president Jack Morton doesn’t believe it is excessive.

“I think people make choices in life and if the club isn’t strong enough, or not going well enough, or there is something wrong they make the choice to play Aussie rules or union that is life,” Morton said. 

“I don’t think (Saturdays) is the answer to it all.”

Being the third forfeit, the Dragons risked not being able to play again this season but instead the eighth placed team have just been made ineligible to play finals. 

“You don’t want clubs to stop playing,” Morton said.

Forfeits seem to be a theme this weekend with Cootamundra not taking under 18s and reserve grade teams to play Albury.

They cited Sunday’s State Of Origin, featuring their junior Jack de Belin, as the reason.

Tumut also forfeited leaguetag against Kangaroos.

Morton said forfeits were discussed on Wednesday night and a think tank was being established in an attempt to “try and help ourselves”.

Meanwhile Temora will tackle Young without second rower Matt Hughes.

Hughes fractured a vertebrae in the loss to Southcity last week and joins Braiden Gillies and James Stewart (both knees) with season ending injuries.

The Dragons scored a win over Young earlier this season but the Cherrypickers are coming off their first win of the season against Tumut.

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