Temora vow to 'meet all commitments' after tough start to 2021 Farrer League season

The Farrer League released an interim draw for the opening five rounds of the under 17 competition on Wednesday after the Kangaroos' decision to withdraw late last week.

The decision caught AFL Riverina officials by surprise and left the under 17s with just four participating clubs.

The withdrawal was the beginning of a tough start to the season for Temora, who experienced a couple of heavy losses at Nixon Park on Saturday.

The Kangaroos lost to North Wagga by 123 points in what was the club's biggest first grade loss in many years, while reserve grade went down by 220.

Hartwig said the decision to withdraw the club's under 17 team was not made lightly.

"There was a lot of soul searching, a lot of adding up of numbers, going through the scenarios. It wasn't an easy thing," Hartwig explained.

"We're definitely not proud of it and not happy about it. It is an unwelcome temporary situation, that's probably the best way I can put it."

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Hartwig maintained the club will meet its obligations in fielding two football teams each week.

"We'll meet all our commitments," he said.

"We've never got too many numbers, we don't have 30 (in reserves) or anything like that.

"This is not a whinge or finger-pointing but there is four clubs in the town and they're all operating and going ok. If we were a one-code one-club town we'd be really rocking. The leagueies have got their problems, the union guys go along ok, they do their thing, the soccer club has their crew as well."

A number of Riverina sporting clubs have struggled for numbers in recent years, with clubs withdrawing teams from the neighbouring Group Nine, Southern Inland and Football Wagga competitions.

Temora sat out last season due to COVID-19, like the rest of the Farrer League clubs, and Hartwig is unsure how big of a factor that played on the club's situation.

"A lot of things in society it didn't do much for, we had a lot of changes," he said.

"But then again Coolamon have player numbers coming out of their eyes, and I believe Turvey are pretty good in the 17s as well."

Hartwig maintains the club is determined for the under 17's hiatus to be only one season.

"I'm not going to come out with a big sugercoat story because it is what it is," he said.

"But we remain upbeat. We've definitely got our eye on the future as we speak. We had a good crowd on Saturday, it just wasn't the results we wanted."

The club is looking forward to six junior-senior 'gala days' throughout the season, as they continue to look to the next generation.

Temora has the bye this week and will travel to take on East Wagga-Kooringal at Gumly Oval on Saturday week.

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