Dennington Bulldogs Face Record Losses but Vow to Continue

The club has lost its first four matches by an average of nearly 300 points, but officials insist they are not considering closure.

Crushing Defeat

The Dennington Bulldogs football club in Victoria's Warrnambool District League suffered a 312-point loss to Russells Creek in round four on Saturday.

The club, which lost approximately three-quarters of its playing list in the off-season, has now lost its first three matches by an average of 266 points. The senior netball team has also faced forfeits and large margins.

Community Commitment

Despite the devastating results, club officials stated that they are not considering closure.

President Anthony Dowd said the club is determined to continue.

Assistant secretary Tony Poehler emphasized the club's importance as a community hub, noting the town has already lost its pub and general store.

Coach Cites Financial Pressures

Coach Tim Condon said the club has resolved internal issues but cited financial pressures and uneven enforcement of salary caps as contributing factors.

"Money is killing country footy. It's not an even playing field."

Plea for Players

After the round four match, assistant playing coach Guy Hardiman—who commutes from Geelong—made an emotional appeal for new players:

"If anyone thinks about wanting to play footy again, please, by all means, come down to training, come to Dennington—it's a great club, great people. Any level of skill that you have, please, come give us a chop out."

No Senior Side This Weekend

On Friday, the club announced it will not field a senior side for the upcoming weekend due to injuries, player unavailability, and welfare concerns.

Those willing to play are expected to participate in the reserves grade. The club has 14 matches remaining in the season.