Dennington Dogs forfeit remainder of men's senior Warrnambool District league season
The Dennington Bulldogs were beaten by more than 300 points during their round four match with Russells Creek. (ABC News: Daniel Miles)
In short:
The Dennington Dogs have put its senior men's football side "into recess" for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The team has lost its opening four matches of the season by an average of 275 points.
What's next?
The club will instead field a reserves football team for the rest of the year.
A country Victorian football team has forfeited the remainder of its season after being beaten by a combined 1,101 points across four matches.
The Dennington Dogs endured a disastrous start to the 2026 Warrnambool District Football Netball League (WDFNL) season, following an off-season exodus of players.
The south-west Victorian team has forfeited the remainder of the season, with the league stating the club had entered into "recess" to ensure the long-term sustainability of the 117-year-old side.
WDFNL president, Larissa Barclay, said the league had a responsibility to ensure the integrity of the competition.
"This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional decision for the Dennington Football Netball Club, and one that has been made only after extensive discussions, reflection and consideration of the club's current circumstances, " Ms Barclay said.
The Dogs played four senior matches this year, losing to Old Collegians, Allansford, Nirranda and Russells Creek before forfeiting last round's match to Kolora Noorat.
The Dogs were scheduled to take on the Timboon Demons at Dennington this weekend.
The Dennington Dogs pride themselves on being a family-friendly club. (ABC News: Daniel Miles)
The fight continues
The Dennington Dogs will field a reserves side for the remainder of the season.
The club forfeited its senior match last weekend and fielded a reserves side against Kolora Noorat, losing by 126 points.
Its netball and junior grades will continue unchanged.
Ms Barclay said it was a difficult time for community sport generally.
"Community football and netball clubs continue to face significant challenges, including player availability, volunteer fatigue, rising operational pressures and the increasing demands placed on community organisations, " she said.
Dennington fans have endured a tough start to the season. (ABC News: Daniel Miles)
"Importantly, Dennington remains committed to providing opportunities for participation across its broader football and netball programs, and that commitment deserves recognition.
"The continuation of junior football, reserves football and all netball programs demonstrates the club's ongoing commitment to its members and to the future of community sport within Dennington."
The league said it would advise of fixture changes for the remainder of the season directly to clubs.