Central North endorses colts competition changes

Byrnes was returned for a third year at the helm at Sunday’s annual general meeting at Barraba, and will head an almost unchanged executive.

The only change is Inverell’s Peter Davidson replacing Sam Scott as junior vice president.

“I’m honoured to be able to do it again,” Byrnes said.

“I’ve got a bit of unfinished business to see through.” 

The “bigger picture” was a big focus of what was a fairly lengthy but productive meeting.

And while the six team finals format for first and second grade was endorsed for another year, there are significant changes to the structure of the colts competition.

For next season it will revert from U16s and U18s to U17s and U19s.

The motion was supported by a majority of the clubs as they, and the zone, attempt to address a slide in player numbers.

“It’s all about being flexible and adapting to what the current environment is,” Byrnes said.

Incidentally the structure was changed to 16s and 18s for the 2012 season for the same reason.

It was voted in for one year at this stage.

“It is an unknown,” he said.

“We can’t say this is the magic bullet.”

But as with bringing in the two tier format, it was a case of needing to try something.

“Most seem to be of the view that it will open up more opportunities for clubs to have U19s,” Byrnes said. 

“It also follows the path of what happens at Country level now with the 20s becoming 19s.”

It also brings them in line with the other zones.

“We’re the only zone to have 16s and 18s. The other zones have 17s and 19s or just 19s,” he said.

He said there were a few figures thrown up about how many players might have been lost, not feeling ready to play seniors.

One club, Byrnes said, indicated they could have lost around 20 players.

Other clubs did express different views, he said, but the overriding sentiment was positive.

This years saw six teams contest the U16s competition and five the U18s, with only Pirates, Tamworth, Narrabri and Barraba fielding sides in both.