Most of the 10 remaining clubs voted to reduce the length of the season following Tumbarumba’s departure, but by how much will be decided later in the week.

Four clubs voted for the 14-round option on the table, another four for 16 rounds while two wanted to play a full home and away season of 18 rounds.

Group Nine president Jack Morton said the clubs would come together on Thursday to decide on the best option going ahead.

“I hope we can get the presidents of each club and have a meeting on Thursday just on the draw,” Morton said.

It shapes as the 16 round season will get the tick of approval from the majority of clubs.

If that remains the case the Group Nine season will move back two weeks from the original start date of April 7.

Under that draw the season will start on April 21 with the grand final on September 8.

Fans were overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the season at 18 rounds, but it was the clubs who had the only say on the matter.

The shift towards playing more Saturday games in the original 2018 draw had been another talking point.

However Morton doesn’t believe it will be an issue.

“That will be sorted out and isn’t a problem at all,” he said. “We just have to settle on a draw and once we do Saturday games won’t be a problem.”