Hanwood received a late invitation to fill a void after Junee indicated it was unable to field a first grade team. 

Their acceptance ensures a 10-team Pascoe Cup. Football Wagga says 12 teams could be ideal. 

"We're happy that if clubs are struggling at the moment, they still play in the lower grades but that they can come back into the competition. They haven't been thrown out, they'll always be welcomed back," Dobbin said. 

He said the focus is on junior participation but, like all sports, ensuring the same strong numbers at senior level is a challenge for clubs.

Hanwood say success at doing exactly that in their own backyard was the major factor in wanting to join Wagga. 

They will field men's teams in the Pascoe Cup and Gardiner Shield as well as Leonard and Madden Cups women's teams.

"We've been trying to get into Wagga for a little while now and with the players and numbers that we have, it suits the club to have two men's and two women's teams playing," Hanwood president Jason Catanzariti said, in addition to continuing to field teams in Griffith.

"We're lucky with our numbers to fill those obligations. And that's something with the club that we've done over time, is to really have a focus on participation and, with that, we've had the increase in numbers."

As a concession in joining the comp, Hanwood have agreed to play their home games against Tumut in Wagga to cut down the travel time from the mountains.  

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