Group Nine are preparing for nine clubs to take part in the 2021 season with Cootamundra not applying to be involved.
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The Bulldogs are waiting on approval to join the George Tooke Shield after sitting out the 2020 season due to coronavirus concerns.
Cootamundra declined to discuss their plans with The Daily Advertiser after the Group Nine annual general meeting on Sunday but did not take part due to their non-financial status.
The Bulldogs floated the idea of not playing first grade for next year before deciding on a change of tact.
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Group Nine chairman Peter McDermott admitted it was a worry for Group Nine.
"It is (a worry) but from our point of view I would rather see them survive and go in that and play in that than not play at all," McDermott said.
"We had a meeting with them and the two points they wanted to put to us was to play in that or come to Group Nine and just play reserve grade.
"They thought if they played just first grade they could get beat 80-0 every week and were scared of losing their younger players.
"We said they had to put it in writing but they went back and had their AGM, everyone voted and they voted to go to the George Tooke.
"We would rather see them do that than fold as if they had another year off I don't think they could come back."
However the Bulldogs withdrawal in preference for the Canberra-based competition, which includes Harden, Boorowa, Bungendore and Crookwell, does pave way for the return to a full home and away draw after a 16-game season was voted in by clubs.
Gundagai were looking to introduce a 12-round season but with the limited number of games threatening the group status of the competition there was little support for the proposal.
It is one positive for Cootamundra's decision.
"Sadly it is a good by-product from it," McDermott said.
"It makes the draw a lot easier, it makes it even now."
Clubs also voted against moving to a Saturday competition however many are willing to work together to play more Saturday games.
The two junior grades will remain as under 16s and under 18s.
Group Nine recorded a profit of $10,769 for the shortened season.
It was down around $30,000 on last year but with the decision to pay for referees to help clubs, less sponsorship received due to fewer games and smaller gate takings due to two less finals McDermott believes it was a good result.
The live streaming of the semi-finals went a long way towards making up the gate taking shortfall and will continue in 2021.
There were no new nominations for the Group Nine board with only five placings filled.
McDermott is still hoping and would ideally like every club represented.
As such the election of chairman and vice chairman was delayed until the next board meeting.
"We are going to see who we can get on and if there is a better candidate before we vote," McDermott said.
Courtney Rees
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
Courtney is a sports journalist from The Daily Advertiser focusing on Group Nine, Southern Inland, cricket, harness racing and greyhound racing.
