The Cootamundra Bulldogs’ 2025 season in Group 9 marks a significant return, re-establishing the club’s presence after a six-year absence.
Coach David Buttriss is deeply proud of the effort shown by his players, despite the challenges they’ve faced. “I’m delighted with how the boys have put in for our first year back in Group 9,” Buttriss said, acknowledging the current reality: “Unfortunately, we are down second from the bottom of the ladder at the moment.”
While the Bulldogs sit low on the standings, Buttriss insists the record doesn’t tell the full story. “The ladder doesn’t show it, but we’ve had a really good year in regards to our first one back in Group 9.”
The biggest hurdle for the Bulldogs has been a relentless wave of injuries that decimated the squad. “Unfortunately, injuries really hurt us in regards to the middle part of the season and we just fell short on a few of those games,” Buttriss explained.
This impact was felt most acutely in leadership positions; the team lost both co-captains, Jordy and Joe, early on. “Losing those two guys early has made things hard,” Buttriss noted, describing how their absence created a “snowball effect” when others, including stand-in captain Luke Levitt, were also sidelined.
Despite the set-back, Buttriss remains inspired by the team’s grit. “Just to keep turning up and keep soldiering on, especially against some of those top teams, has inspired me to keep building and to keep moving forward with the boys.”
Beyond First Grade, the club’s return has been a testament to its unity and depth. “It’s so good to be back playing all as one,” Buttriss shared, highlighting the importance of having Reserve Grade and the 18s back on the field. The club’s commitment to fielding four grades each week, despite the injury crisis, has been unwavering.
“We’ve committed each week regardless of how many injuries we’ve had, we’ve still put the team out on the field and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone’s effort,” Buttriss said, adding praise for the Reserve Grade, who “keep showing up” even when First Grade depleted their ranks. The support from the community has been over-whelming and integral to the club’s success this season.
“The whole town has got behind us. It’s been great seeing all the old Bulldogs boys and just old supporters just popping back up to the game and just coming back to our major sponsor and having a beer and just saying how much they’re enjoying being around the club and coming down and supporting us. ”
The current resurgence is particularly meaningful given Cootamundra’s storied past in the competition. The Bulldogs are a foundation club of Group 9, and before their departure at the conclusion of the 2019 season—which saw them transition to the George Tooke Shield—they were historically a powerhouse.
Cootamundra boasts a proud record of nine First Grade premierships in Group 9, a number that places them among the most successful clubs in the competition’s history. The club’s legacy is further cemented by its connection to notable players such as Hall of Famers Les Boyd and Eric Weissel. With this legacy in mind, the Bulldogs are focused on finishing the current season strong.
With the team expecting to have nearly 90% of players back on deck after a bye weekend, they are ready for the final push, especially with three upcoming home games. “We are looking forward to these last five games just to finish the season strong and just to show everyone what we can do.”
The primary goal remains the club’s long-term future in Group 9. “The goal is to keep the Club in Group 9 for the near and distant future,” Buttriss affirmed, noting that things “are looking healthy for next year.”
This season is more than just a return; it’s a rebuilding of a legacy. “Coota has a really good history in Group Nine and to get that back and to get things back up and moving is special,” Buttriss reflected. “People are going to talk about this year in many years to come that we were the ones that brought it all back and put in some hard yards behind the scenes and hopefully it pays off in the future years.”
-Tully Potts
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