In an action packed annual general meeting, president Jack Morton, vice president Ray Carr and treasurer Brian Walker all failed to be voted back on the eight-person board.

Instead five new challengers, Aaron Byrne, who was absent from the meeting, Josh Cale, Ian Close, Andrew Hinchcliffe and Peter McDermott were all successfully voted in by the delegates.

After the first round of voting, Byrne, Close and Walker were level for the last two remaining positions, but Walker was the man to miss out following a second round of votes.

Ken Keenan, Kathy Tuckwell and Larry Collins are the only remaining directors from last season with Pat Wilesmith also failing to be re-elected.

McDermott was installed as the new Group Nine president with Close as vice president.

With so many new faces, the role of treasurer will be determined later.

The operations manager role, currently occupied by Andrew Morton, will also be advertised.

McDermott is hoping the fresh faces can bring fresh ideas for which direction the competition should be headed in.

“It’s a change of personnel and hopefully some new ideas and different experiences,” McDermott said.

“They all bring something a little bit different to the table so hopefully it will be good for the comp.”

The changes see a broader representation of clubs among the directors.

McDermott, who is from Junee, said it was one of the reasons so many different people nominated this year.

Only seven of the eight director roles were filled this year.

After taking a financial hit last season, including a $15,000 downfall in gate takings, it is one of the areas McDermott said the new board wanted to concentrate on.

The overhaul of the executive was just one of the changes made on Sunday with the competition structure finalised with a number of more traditional options voted back in.

The top five will return in 2019 with the Group Nine season set to culminate with a traditional Sunday afternoon grand final.

After two seasons of the grand final being played under lights on Saturday nights, a 3pm Sunday decider was voted in as part of a dramatic annual general meeting on Sunday.

This year’s grand final will be played on September 15 after the season was extended to 18 rounds.

The new length allows for a complete home and away season, which is expected to start on April 5.

There was plenty of debate over the length of the 2018 season following Tumbarumba’s withdrawal from the competition eventually settling on 16 rounds.

It was a tight vote once again with six of the 10 clubs voting for a longer season.

Albury official Warren Jenkinson later revealed he had intended to vote to remain with a 16-round competition but the motion had already been confirmed.

The Thunder’s vote would have seen the 16 round season remain as there would have been no deciding vote cast.

After moving to a top four for 2018, the top five returns with a four-week final series.

Only premiers Gundagai voted for the top four to remain.

An 18-round draw is yet to be finalised however two rounds are expected to be played before the Easter long weekend general bye.

There will also be a general bye for the June long weekend.

Another change coming over Group is under 17 and under 19 competition will replace the current Sullivan Cup (under 16) and Weissel Cup (under 18) in 2019.

Unlike many of the items voted on, the subject generated plenty of discussion.

Group Nine Junior League elected for the under 16s to remain in the senior competition for 2019 but return to the juniors in 2020 recently but the senior clubs didn’t follow suit.

However with clubs such as Junee, Gundagai and Kangaroos more confident they could fill under 17s the change in age group went ahead.

McDermott believes it is an important issue for the health of the group.

“There is a lot of talking about the juniors and a lot of voting today and we want to oversee it and make sure it all comes together,” he said. “Hopefully it does without two many hitches and hopefully it keeps kids playing football.

With the introduction of the under 17 and 19s, having another grade of leaguetag was rejected by the clubs.