The Demons won last season's premiership but the news of the side's massive fall from grace was confirmed on Wednesday night.

An exodus of players, as well as the inability of others to commit week in, week out left the club to decide whether it take a year off to restructure, or do what it can with only a handful on the field each week.

"It's disappointing but it would have been much more disappointing pull out halfway through the season after just limping along," Lowther said.

"We pride ourselves on how we are presented and it's better to rebuild and get the correct structure.

"If we had played on it could have caused more damage."

The huge number of players who have moved away from Dubbo - headlined by former competition best and fairest winner Emily Warner, as well as Matilda Asser, Trudy Sloane, Caroline McGrath and last season's coach Ebony Mackey - took a huge toll but Lowther said there was more to the decision.

The amount of travel the Dubbo team has to undertake was another aspect, with five hour round trips to the likes of Bathurst and Cowra a common occurrence.

Lowther said discussion with the AFL Central West had been ongoing for a number of weeks and while he said the governing body had assisted, it was time to look at the way things are run to ensure a Dubbo side returns to competition in 2020.

"I think we need to recognise the current model doesn't work," Lowther said.

"AFL Central West has got to get more women playing locally to help remove barriers like cost and travel.

"People love it when they're playing but there are those larger barriers.

"The greatest hit to us is a real benefit for other sports... rugby union, local league tag, and tackle league. As well as soccer, as always.

"It's great for those sports but they're all more locally-based.

"If you look back at 2015 the options for competitions in women's sport was limited and now everyone is spoiled for choice."

Lowther was of the belief no women's side in the competition was booming with numbers, adding to his desire to see action taken to address the issue.

As for the 2019 season, only five sides now remain in the women's competition as it kicks off the Saturday after Easter, with the remaining Demons players set to link with the Parkes Panthers.

"When you lose a core group of players it's about how you rebuild," Lowther said.

"We had people interested but we didn't have that core group that could commit week in, week out and that's what you need at this level."