Group Nine has declared they'll do everything possible to ensure the Diesels have some sort of involvement in 2021, and the club took to social media on Monday night to issue a call to arms to players.

"With the Group Nine Raiders tournament (in Junee on March 20) only 12 days away, the Junee Diesels desperately need to make a call on our participation in this year's first and reserve grade competitions," they posted on Facebook.

"Numbers at training have been low and this Tuesday night's session is critical to our future. We urge all players intending to play this year to please attend, to enable decisions to be made on our future."

It isn't the first time the junior club of league legend Laurie Daley has come close to withdrawing from senior football.

"We'll make a decision over the coming days and go from there," Junee president David Holt said.

"There's a slim chance (of playing first grade). There's a chance, don't get me wrong, we're still desperately trying to put that together.

"There's another option (only playing second grade) and our other option is to go into recess for this year, but we'll be doing everything we can to avoid doing that."

The club's rising talent stocks are very healthy. Their under-16s team claiming their sixth premiership in seven years last season while the under-14s went through last year unbeaten.

"We've got good 18s and league tag, great numbers in both of those teams. We need to back that up with the senior grades," he said.

"We'll have a meeting with the players this evening (Tuesday) and have a committee meeting tomorrow night, then go from there."

New Group Nine chairman Andrew Hinchcliffe said they will investigate all options to help Junee.

"From the board's perspective we'll do everything we can to support Junee in this tough time, and hopefully they can get as many sides together as possible for the 2021 season," Hinchcliffe said.

"It's unfortunate. Player numbers have been a concern across the group for a few years, and on the back of a COVID year the timing isn't great.

"The primary objective is to do whatever we can to help. Once we've explored those options then we'll work through what the best possible outcomes are for the Group for this season.

"There's some positives coming out of Junee. They have increased numbers around their league tag, and obviously their 16s last year were very successful."

Hinchcliffe said allowing Junee to only field a reserve grade competition to avoid a full hiatus is a potential option.

"Essentially that would come down to a vote between the clubs," he said.

"I believe there's other groups working through similar challenges and other groups, only just from what I've heard, have allowed clubs to compete without a first grade team.

"Obviously traditionally that wouldn't be the normal stance, but as footy evolves things need to change. Having flexible rules to be more accommodating is probably really the only position going forward."

The development comes after Cootamundra's withdrawal from Group Nine to play in the George Tooke Shield, a Canberra-based competition which also includes Harden, Boorowa, Bungendore and Crookwell.

Tumbarumba went into recess in 2018 after withdrawing from Group Nine and now compete in the Murray Cup.

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