Benalla All Blacks vow to fight on after losing 40 players over the past few months

And now the club is fighting to bounce back, trying to have enough players to finish the season.

Last year, the Panthers broke a 41-year drought to claim the senior premiership.

They also won the reserves flag, losing four games all year in both divisions.

This year is the complete opposite.

The seniors second last on the ladder after losing their first three games, their last two by more than 100 points, and their reserves losing two straight games by more than 100 points.

All Blacks president Phil Spencer said a mass exodus and large injury toll has decimated the club from one of the best in the league to a team struggling to be competitive.

By his calculations, 16 players from the senior grand final team and 10 players from the reserves grand final side have not returned this year.

The team also has 12 to 15 players out with injury including three players who suffered knee injuries in the space of five minutes last round.

Around 40 players have been lost in total.

“That’s ballpark, without doing a proper headcount,” Spencer said.

“It wouldn’t be far off. In the first game it started to hit home (how bad it was).

“We even struggled with pre-season getting numbers, on a good night we had 20 blokes.”

Players have left the club for multiple reasons.

Some have retired while others including leading goalkicker from last year, Lachlan Thompson, have off-field commitments impacting them getting back to the footy field.

Others have left the club to go interstate or overseas, including the 2022 league best-and-fairest, Riley Moran, while some have failed to return despite re-signing.

“It’s strange, just strange, especially when you look at the photos and the celebrations from Mad Monday you think why don’t these boys want to try for back-to-back,” he said.

“It is a really good club, really good family atmosphere. We have good social events, everyone is happy there.

“Why wouldn’t you just come back and play foot with your mates and have a good time.

“I seriously can’t work it out.”

The situation has become so serious, some players have been forced to play reserves and seniors to help the club get through.

The All Blacks have since put out a call out for players.

“We’ve got a full side in the seniors and we’ve got 17 in reserves (this week),” Spencer said.

“First week we are not doubling up players. There’s been a few guys who have signed up this week to have a kick.”

Spencer said no matter what happened the club would not forfeit or finish the season early.

“I’m confident we’ll get through the season,” he said.

“We’re hoping there’s a few ex players who might come back this year. You don’t want to see the club go downhill.

“So we’ll fight through this year.”

Planning is already underway for next year with a recruiting manager being looked at to help sign more players and bring the club in a new direction.

But Spencer said the door was always open for those who helped the club break its premiership drought to return.

“All I’d say is really please come back and give a bit back to the club,” he said.

“You know how good a club it is and what a great time you had last year. I’m not saying anyone owes us anything but there is a time and need.

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“If we got three or four of the good senior players back it pushes three of four back into the reserves, bolsters that team and makes it more competitive.

“We’re three or four good players off from being competitive, not saying we’d win the premiership, but we’d be competitive.”

The All Blacks play United Bright in their next match on Saturday at 2pm at home.

Originally published as Benalla All Blacks vow to fight on after losing 40 players over the past few months