David McCann was appointed president of the Gunnedah Bulldogs (GRLFC) for next year at the AGM held at the Gunnedah Services and Bowling Club last Sunday.
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Lauren McCoy remained as secretary while the treasurer position was not filled after Sandra Donnelly stepped aside from the role.
Michael Ludlow was appointed senior vice-president after being this year’s president, and Matt Buck was named junior vice-president.
An experienced first grade player and coach, McCann was the Gunnedah junior league president for seven years before being an assistant coach of under 16 and under 18 teams in more recent times.
The GRLFC is now seeking applications for first grade, reserve grade, under 18 and league tag coaching positions.
“It's important we get that sort of thing cleared up in the next few weeks,” McCann said.
With the Bulldogs reaching the semi-finals but not the grand final in the 2016 first grade, reserve grade and leaguetag competitions while coming last in the under 18s, McCann considered it was “a reasonably successful year” for the club.
Without being too critical, McCann considered the club needed to “tidy things up” in a few ways as the Bulldogs sought to move ahead.
McCann sensed that the players weren’t as fit as they could have been when heading into the finals series, and that the club needed to “run the ship a bit tighter” and “make sure we’re all on the same page”.
“We need to have a clear direction of where we want to be and what we strive for,” McCann said.
Now in her third year as secretary and fourth year on the committee, Lauren McCoy agreed with McCann’s sentiments.
The secretary said the committee, containing more than 20 people, was the biggest so far and that it contained a good mix of male and female players, as well as new and former committee people.
McCoy emphasised that the Bulldogs were focused on moving forward and trying to foster and grow their club and its players.
Amidst the turmoil in Group 4 involving lengthy suspensions given to certain players because of violence on grand final day, followed by the withdrawal of a major sponsor, McCoy stressed that the Bulldogs were focused on themselves.
The Gunnedah rugby league club’s first fundraiser for 2017 will be the annual golf day, to be staged on November 13.
Nominations can be made at the Pro Shop on 6742 1751, with November 11 the deadline. Entry is $25.
The Bulldogs finished season 2016 with a minor final loss at Collins Park.