Cootamundra will lose more than 300 games worth of experience this season with former co-captains Adam McPhail and Brent Farnsworth calling time on their Strikers tenure.
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Both McPhail and Farnsworth impressed in a tough season for Cootamundra last year with the latter enduring a horror injury run and post-operative infection.
Now the pair, along with goalkeeper Kayne Cassidy, have decided to call it quits ahead of the coming season.
After more than 14 years with the Strikers, McPhail believes it’s “time to pull the pin”.
“Me and Bugsy (Farnsworth) have played for a fair while now and we just felt it was the right time to move,” he said.
“There’s a few differences with the new coach coming in but we’ve done our time and it’s up to the young fellas like Brenton Forsyth and Scott Endacott to really step up now.”
McPhail and Farnsworth formed the spine of Cootamundra’s 2016 grand final side with Farnsworth named Pascoe Cup Player of the Year in the same season and both men have held lengthy coaching and captaincy terms at O’Connor Park.
Cassidy also formed part of the squad who went down to Lake Albert in the 2016 decider and will be sorely missed in goals under new coach Molla ‘Mo’ Hassani.
That 2016 campaign still ranks among McPhail’s fondest memories in the blue and white strip.
“Yeah probably making those few finals and the decider in 2016 would be up there,” he said.
“Shame we didn’t finish it up but that’s footy for you.”
The former captain-coach gave small hope for a return down the track but ruled out playing for his local side in the immediate future.
“I’m just cutting it off but there’s always a chance to come back at some stage.”
“Sometimes you get the bug and miss the contest but I won’t be playing with Coota this year.
McPhail admitted it could be a tough season ahead for his old club without three of their most experienced players.
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