THE Gunnedah Bulldogs have taken the next step in securing their future by holding a meeting at the Gunnedah Bowling Club on Sunday.
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The meeting was aimed at gauging the public's interest about joining potential junior and women's teams for the 2020 AFL North West season.
Current Bulldogs players were flanked by AFL North West officials and potential future players at the meeting.
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Bulldogs president Hamish Russell said the club's plans of fielding three new teams next season were "going full steam ahead".
"Sunday's meeting went really well and we had a good showing of both potential players and current club members," Russell said.
"There was a good handful of ladies interested in joining the women's team, as well as a coach and potential players for an under-14 team.
"Our initial goal was to gauge interest within the local community and this meeting exceeded our expectations."
Russell said the meeting had "started a conversation" within the community.
"The most satisfying thing for me to come out of this meeting was the feedback we have received from the community," he said.
"A lot of people have come to me and asked how the meeting went, how our plans are going and how to get involved.
"Our goal was to field three new teams next year and give more people in our region a chance to play AFL, and I think we are doing that."
The Bulldogs' players will now turn their attention to Tamworth's inaugural AFL nines competition, which begins on Thursday.
"We had Tamworth Swans president Josh McKenzie along to the meeting to promote the nines competition and it has attracted plenty of our guys," Russell said.
"This competition has encouraged a few women to get involved and show an interest in joining us next season as well.
"We're all really excited for the nines competition and grateful to Josh for coming and sharing his insights with us, not just on the nines, but the impact a women's team can have on your club."
Russell said "big plans" were already in place for the club to attract new players.
"From here, we will host a come and try day for the juniors in the new year, and a women's-only come and try day as well," he said.
"AFL North Wests' Paul Taylor will help us out with those sessions in the new year.
"We are particularly excited about the women's-only training session.
"It will be run by women, for women, and has helped countless other clubs expand and add a women's team.
"Overall, we are really excited to be taking the next step and we can't wait to see what's next."
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
