By TIM MANNION

While he concedes the Group 10 draw for the 2008 season does his team few favours, Bathurst Panthers captain-coach Dave Elvy said the system in place is a fair one.

The draw was released last week and has Elvy’s two-time defending premiers seeded in the top tier alongside Lithgow Workies, Cowra and cross-town rivals St Pat’s - with all four sides meeting each other three times in the 2008 season. And with Oberon withdrawing from premier league in 2008, it leaves Orange CYMS, Orange Hawks and Mudgee on the other side of the draw in the seven-team competition.

This means CYMS, Hawks and Mudgee all have an extra bye during the premier league season and therefore, an automatic two point advantage.

Elvy predicts the extra bye and two points that come with it could play a pivotal role in the make-up of semi-final positions, but empathised with Group 10 secretary Peter McDonald.

McDonald formulated the draw and said with the competition the way it is, the advantage for Mudgee and the two Orange teams was “just unavoidable.”

The seedings were determined as a result of the 2006 standings and have been kept in place for two years in order to allocate the eight Group 10 clubs an equal share of home games.

“It probably doesn’t affect things too much but that two point advantage [for Hawks, CYMS and Mudgee] is maybe a little bit harsh,” Elvy said.

“I know CYMS have bought up big [with new playing talent] and Mudgee have got [NSW Country play-maker] Warick Colley back so two points could mean a fair bit by the time semi’s roll around.

“It’s almost as if you get punished for your success but there’s nothing you can do about it. The system is the fairest way they can do it.”

While careful not to criticise the current 17-round format of Group 10, Elvy admitted he was still “a big believer” in the 14 round home and away season where teams play each opposing outfit twice a season - once at home and the other away.

The general consensus though is that 14 rounds is too short and 21 rounds (three full rounds) is too long.