BILLABONG Crows have formed a sub-committee to plot their next move.
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Switching competitions, merging, folding and remaining in the Hume league were options raised during a community meeting attended by 100 people at Oaklands on Friday night.
The six-member committee will report back to the Crows’ committee in coming weeks.
Club president Bruce Owen said he was encouraged by the turnout but stressed there was no easy fix for dwindling player and volunteer numbers.
“You have to look at all options,” Owen said.
“A lot of things were put up and we will look into them.
“I was disappointed more of the younger contingent wasn’t at the meeting because they are the ones with kids coming through.
“We will just try and get as much information as possible and then try and make the right decision.”
Owen said it was important for the district football community to come together to address the problems facing country clubs.
Neighbouring Hume league club CDHBU is facing a similar predicament while Ovens and Murray battler Corowa-Rutherglen has been under pressure for several years.
Many Hume league clubs are struggling to find enough juniors to fill under-14 and 17 teams each weekend.
“It’s not just us who is struggling,” Owen said.
“We are not down on our knees and grovelling to other clubs yet.
“It’s everywhere.
“I wish clubs would come out instead of sitting on their hands with a poker face.
“They have their heads up the backside if they think there are no problems.
“It would make decisions easier if they spoke out.
“If a lot more clubs don’t come out and speak about the problems they are facing then nothing will ever get fixed.”
The Crows and CDHBU presently field senior, reserve and under-14 sides and both have an abundance of netballers.
They are also financially sound.
Oaklands and Urana merged to become the Billabong Crows in the Coreen and District league in 2005.
They then switched to the Hume league with CDHBU, Rennie and Coleambally in 2008.
Rennie has since joined the Picola and District south east league while Coleambally play in the Farrer league.
The Hoppers recently broke a 42-man losing streak under new coach Craig Ednie.
Another neighbouring club, Finley, has also fallen on tough times in the Murray league this season.
After playing in last season’s grand final, the Cats suffered an exodus of players and have forfeited their past two reserve grade matches.