Neil Pankhurst was commenting after the Nationals on Saturday suffered their worst result in the North East seat with candidate Mark Byatt suffering an eight per cent swing with less than 10 per cent of the primary vote.

"I spent some time over there and got a sense things were going better than what they turned out to be," the Goulburn Valley resident said.

"I don't know I've come to any real conclusion at this stage (about the poor showing).

"We've got a state conference this weekend in Maryborough and I'm sure it will be a topic for discussion."

However, Mr Pankhurst noted the party needed to give a candidate more time and a branch in Wodonga, Indi's population hub and home to Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie's electorate office, was desirable.

"You can't fatten a pig on market day, you can't just go in with a message over a short time," Mr Pankhurst said.

"I would certainly see it (a Wodonga branch) is something we need to do to grow the membership base."

Mr Pankhurst attributed Independent Helen Haines' win in Indi to grassroots backing.

"There's a strong support network working there and getting their message out," he said.

RELATED:

Former federal Nationals leader Tim Fischer also said a "huge on-the-ground army of support" had aided Dr Haines.

He believes Nationals should continue to contest Indi, despite Coalition partner the Liberal Party garnering nearly four times the primary vote on Saturday.

"I think properly conducted three-cornered contests are perfectly okay and indeed the only way to wrestle back seats from independents," Mr Fischer said.

"I note Mark actually won outright three booths, including Corryong, but I note there's a lot of work to be done and needed to replicate the results in seats like Mallee and Cowper."

The Nationals 2016 election candidate Marty Corby won five booths - Eskdale, Goorambat, Milawa, Tungamah and Whorouly.