The new board has swiftly installed a new pre-season event on March 16 and it will be mandatory for all clubs to be involved.

Unlike the West Wyalong Knockout or Group 20’s pre-season equivalent, new president Peter McDermott is looking for it be a nines event.

“At this stage it looks like it will be nines,” McDermott said.

“We still haven’t finalised that, but it is the general feeling and it seems to be the in thing these days.

“Plus early in the season if clubs are struggling for numbers it is a hell of a lot easier for clubs to find nine players with a few reserves than a great heap.”

Women’s leaguetag will run in conjunction and McDermott hopes the day can have a real family feel.

Wagga City Council has been approached to ensure the event can be held at Equex Centre and Paramore Park.

Looking to avoid a clash with the West Belconnen Nines the week prior, McDermott believes the event is well situated three weeks out from the start of the competition on April 6.

“It will give them another chance to have a trial if they wanted to then have a week’s break, or vice versa, then start the comp,” he said.

It’s also hoped the day can be a boost to the Group Nine coffers after a significant decrease in takings last season.

However another pre-season spectacle has fallen by the wayside with no plans for a reboot of the All Stars game.

The clash between the Group Nine All Stars and Indigenous All Stars was abandoned before the start of the 2018 season and there are no plans for its return.

McDermott didn’t feel the interest has been high in the event over the past few years.

However there are discussions for a different kind of reboot with Group 20.

A suggestion was tabled for the Group Nine Indigenous All Stars side to take on their western Riverina counterparts. 

Plans are being sounded out for the game to be played as a curtain-raiser to the NRL game between Canberra and Penrith on May 4.

Group Nine aren’t having a general bye on the weekend but no football will be played on the Saturday.

Instead all five games will be on Sunday.

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