Crawford, a former Brownlow Medallist and originally from New South Wales country club Finley, coached the team last season after it was in danger of going into recess.
But last week the club announced that it would not be found gracing the fields and courts of the Kyabram District League in 2022.
Taking to social media to break the news, the club cited an inability to attract enough players to field competitive sides as the major factor behind the decision.
“It is with great regret and much consideration that the Ardmona Football Netball Club has made the difficult decision to go into recess for the 2022 season,” the club said in its statement.
“The club has struggled to secure enough players to field a side that would be competitive this year.”
Enduring a tough period both on and off the field, the Bush Cats went an astounding six years — 2121 days to be exact — without winning a game, before Hawthorn legend Crawford came on board as senior coach and inspired a drought-breaking victory against Longwood last year.
A major curveball for the league just one month out from the commencement of the season, KDL president Fraser Kerrins said it was disappointing to see one of its clubs be unable to field a side in 2022.
“It is disappointing that just one month out from the season we will not be able to have Ardmona participate,” Kerrins said.
“We have been working with the Ardmona Football Club over the past couple of years and have been in constant communication with their football and netball directors and their executive committee for the last two months.
“Those discussions then intensified earlier in the week, and it has been a constant line of open communication that led to them making the decision they made on Friday night.”
He said the Ardmona situation signified the struggle community football had faced over recent years as it continued to try and bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.
“It is not a great thing (to see one of our clubs go into recess), but unfortunately it shows a bit of where we are as a football community across the state in the fact that more and more clubs are struggling to get volunteers, players, members, supporters, and all sorts of things,” he said.
“I reckon we won’t be the only league this happens to this year; I think all over teams will struggle to field reserves and under-18s teams which is very disappointing.”
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