When Dionee Holmes-Smith spoke at Dubbo Westside's meeting on Wednesday night it summed up the mood of everyone in attendance.
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The club had come together following Sunday's vote at the Group 11 annual general meeting, one which resulted in Westside being removed from the 2020 competition.
"Westside is like an army in battle," club member Holmes-Smith told the group.
"Once you start to lose ground or are forced to retreat, they don't give up they just reassess and regather troops and then attack. Bigger and stronger and more wise."
The Westside board opened the floor to the players and current and former club members on Wednesday night.
They let them make the decision about the club's future and with Holmes-Smith's words ringing in their ears the result was adamant.
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Westside won't be folding and the members won't be going anywhere.
The club may not feature on the field in any competition next season but it will push on, working in the community and boosting its profile before a planned return to the field in 2021.
"One hundred percent voted to sit out the 2020 season but we will still continue off it," Westside secretary Brooke Mallison said.
"We'll be fundraising and holding events, and next year is our 40th year so that's a big one.
"We'll be getting back into the community. The governance and admin side [of the club] couldn't be better but we need to rebuild the club in the community.
"Nobody voted to move into the Castlereagh or Woodbridge [competitions] but we want to stick together off the field."
The current board will stay on, as well.
Mallison and her husband Wayne, also the club president, have fielded a huge amount of calls and messages in recent days with many people concerned the club was folding for various reasons.
But that is not the case, as the more than 30 people on Wednesday were told.
What's done is done and we can't keep looking at it.
- Westside secretary Brooke Mallison
"Everyone showed their disappointment but when we told them we're not folding that changed the vibe," Mallison said.
"I think a lot of people expected us to walk away but we're not folding.
"What's done is done and we can't keep looking at it. The decision has been made and that's that."
Mallison hailed the meeting, stating it was a hugely positive one considering the blow the club was dealt on Sunday.
A number of tough conversations with players and members past and present followed the AGM, where Westside was removed from competition due to concerns about the club's competitiveness and sustainability.
That message was passed on to the group on Wednesday night before the decision on the club's future was put to the floor.
A handful of players who wore the red and green in 2019 informed Mallison and the board they won't be playing anywhere next year as they work to help the club rebuild.
But there won't be any ill-feeling towards anyone who leaves to keep playing footy, with the likes of captain Kaidyn Mohr someone who may well be in demand now.
"A good handful have committed to us or said if they do play they'll play another code," Mallison said.
"But people can still play. Someone like Kaidyn, even though he might look at other clubs he wants to be involved with us still and he reiterated that."
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
