NORTH Albury looks to be in trouble after losing dangerous forward Kane Godde to Thurgoona.

Godde has joined the Tallangatta and District league heavyweight as an assistant coach, compounding what has been a troublesome off-season for the Hoppers.

As well as losing a large chunk of its senior core, there is also instability off the field at Bunton Park.

The club is yet to hold its annual meeting, postponed late last year.

No date has been set, but officials expect it will be held this month.

Paul Spencer will step aside as president at the meeting.

North Albury is one of the few clubs to lose ground on last season, with Godde joining Kade Brown (Thurgoona), Brian Durbidge (Cairns), Ben Ryan, Josh Senior, Nick Sheridan (Murray Magpies), Chris Taylor (Beechworth), Joel Price (Howlong) and Ash Sibraa (Yackandandah) as departures.

Former St Kilda star Jason Gram still hasn’t re-signed and four-time best and fairest winner Brandon Ryan is yet to decide his playing future.

Kylin Morey, Lachie Taylor-Nugent, Simon Mitchelhill and promising Henty big man Isaac Muller joined the Hoppers in October but the club has been quiet on the recruiting front since.

Thurgoona is enjoying a strong off-season.

The Bulldogs, who were bundled out of this year’s TDFL finals in straight sets, have added Albury forward Sam Cross and Lavington’s Kane Westlow, as well as Brown and Godde.

Godde was one of the Ovens and Murray’s star performers in the first half of last season, booting 26 goals in the opening nine rounds.

He was among the league’s top-five goalkickers at the halfway mark of the season before injury niggles slowed him.

Thurgoona coach Jason Sheather said Godde would be the ideal replacement for Tom Stead, who recently signed as an assistant coach at Walla.

“We’re really excited to have Kane on board,” Sheather said.

“He’s hard at the footy and will be perfect for us.

“Like “Crossy” and “Pup” (Brown), Kane’s in his mid-20s. I think we’re recruiting the right guys.

“He’s in a position with work where he needed to reconsider whether he could commit to the O and M and we think he’ll fit in nicely with us.”

The Border Mail could not reach North Albury coach Jason Akermanis for comment.