"We get our players coming into the system for under 13s. They go through the grades and some of them are sick of it by the time they're ready for seniors,'' he said.

Grass pointed out there's considerable travel involved, with training sessions held at Taree and Port Macquarie during the season.

Mid Coast is the only club in the premier league not based in Newcastle. It's also a long campaign, with training underway in January while the season-proper runs for 21 rounds of home and away fixtures. Mid Coast's home games are played in Taree.

The attraction of playing in the northern or southern domestic competition becomes too great for some.

"But there again, a lot say they don't want to play there because the standard of games there isn't what they're used to and expect,'' Grass added.

Mid Coast's experiencing a lean year in the competition. They're second last in first grade with a win and a loss from 11 games. Last game the Middies were hammered 10-0 by second placed Broadmeadow Magic.

The reserve grade has fared better to be sixth, but they're struggling to stay with the leading five teams.

Last season the first grade just missed a berth in the playoffs while the reserve grade made the preliminary final.

Grass said there are a number of factors to explain this year's struggles.

"We lost six of last season's first grade side for varying reasons,'' he said.

"That's a big chunk out of a starting side.''

Courtney Adamson was the leading goal scorer in 2020 but isn't playing this year.

Grass pointed out that this year's roster is by far the youngest in the competition. Losing players from the system to go to university or for employment opportunities is a perennial problem for Mid Coast.

Grass said inexperience is a major problem.

"Take our last game for example. I thought we competed really well in the first half even though we were down 3-0 at halftime. But a couple of things went against us in the second and and that tends to snowball with young players,'' he said.

Injuries have also hit hard.

"We have 34 players registered for our senior sides,'' he said.

"But at times this season we've only had 19 to pick from.''

Other teams in the league are bolstered by players with W-League experience. Grass admits this is an impossible dream for Mid Coast.

"Unless a player wanted to move up here, it won't happen,'' he said.

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