STRONG bonds of mateship is something the Bathurst Bulldogs club has long prided itself on - they are bonds which have led to on field success and bonds that help ease the pain of disappointing defeats.
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They are bonds that even now, when all Central West Rugby Union competitions are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, are important.
Like a host of other Bathurst sporting clubs, Bulldogs are encouraging members to keep fit and issuing challenges via social media.
But the club is also placing an emphasis on its Blue Elephant program which deals with mental health.
"It's blue because you're feeling blue and elephant because it's the elephant in the room, you don't talk about it," Bulldogs president Greg Reid said.
"I was worried about a few of the people who reacted quite poorly to the season being suspended.
"A lot of people don't have a social connection outside of footy or work. That's their life, their sense of purpose is 'I go to footy in winter, that's what I do. So what do I do now?'."
Reid said encouraging players, staff and fans to contact their mates is an important part of helping people through what is a difficult time.
It is a time where Bulldogs have had to adapt so if the season is given the green light to go ahead, they will be ready.
First grade coach Matt McRobert has been encouraging players to conduct their own training sessions.
"What our strategy has been, every week he [McRobert] posts the session plans we would have done for fitness and skills. It's the full session, warm-ups and drills, so people can still do those," Reid said.
"We also have Bulldogs' daily challenge, the BDC, and for those who aren't as committed to doing a full session they can post things like they've done 500 burpees or a five kay run-walk. Something to try and create that daily challenge.
"We are still trying to create that inclusive culture even though we have to socially distance.
"There's 180 people in our messenger chat group, so there is still good banter there.
"Matt's posting a game a week too, there was one when the Wallabies actually won a game, that's how far it goes back.
"I see [Orange] Emus have been posting grand final games and they tag us in those too which has been nice. There is a good camaraderie between us and Emus."
While Group 10 Rugby League clubs Bathurst Panthers and St Pat's have been given a July 18 target for the start of their season, at the moment no date has been set for the resumption of CWRU.
Bulldogs are be keen to build on a bumper 2019 when all its sides qualified for grand finals and the firsts, thirds and women's teams were crowned premiers.
"It might look very different, we will just have look at whatever cards are dealt," Reid said.
"There will need to be a three or four week window to get people to train and get fit too, duty of care you can't let people just run out."
