Country footy: Kyabram District league club Ardmona go into recess

A country club has gone into recess for the 2022 season just a year after Hawthorn champion Shane Crawford led them to their first win in over 2000 days.

The country club which Hawthorn champion Shane Crawford helped to rebuild in 2021 will not take to the field for the upcoming season after a difficult off-season.

Ardmona, who play in the Kyabram District league in Northern Victoria, has announced it will go into recess for 2022 due to an inability to field a “competitive” team.

The Bushcats announcement on Friday came after a successful 2021 season where playing numbers where boosted and the club won its first game in over 2000 days against Longwood under the guidance of the Hawthorn premiership player.

Crawford had originally signed on to coach the Bushcats for the 2020 season.

In recent weeks, the club had been advertising pre-season training sessions with calls for “new and old faces” to make a return to the training track.

A Facebook post from Ardmona on December 30 last year called for expressions of interest for “playing or non playing seniors and reserves coaches for the 2022 season”.

It follows on a string of issues across country footy in different parts of regional Victoria with many clubs desperate for players and volunteers ahead of the new season.

Clubs including Benalla, Port Fairy and Wahgunyah had all taken to social media to express their difficult situations just weeks out from the season.

Shane Crawford coached Ardmona in 2021. Photo: Brayden May.

“It is with great regret and much consideration that the Ardmona Football Netball Club has made the difficult decision to go into recess for the 2022 season,” the club said in a statement.

“The club has struggled to secure enough players to field a side that would be competitive this year.

“The committee is going into this recess with a firm plan to return in 2023 with a strong junior development plan and with coaching and admin staff that will attract a competitive and enthusiastic group of players.

“We realise this will be very hard news to take for our loyal Ardy Army but rest assured that 2023 will see the Bushcats back bigger and better than ever.”

Ardmona celebrated their first win in 2121 days last year.

Kyabram District league officials said they were working on making the “necessary changes” to the fixture for the season in response to Ardmona’s announcement.

“After many attempts and a lot of hard work put in behind the scenes from the club committee, they unfortunately were in a position where it was necessary to go into recess for the upcoming year,” a league statement said.

“We wish all the members of the Ardmona Football Netball Club well for this year and the league hopes to see the Bushcats back for the 2023 season.”

[e-mail]

Originally published as Country footy: Kyabram District league club Ardmona go into recess