Injury and poor form in Cootamundra led to de Belin's drop to reserve grade in that first year in the country. He and Joan stayed in town, Fred coached the reserve grade side and the Bethungra village team, became manager of the Cootamundra Baths, led a team of basketballers to the finals and became the town's table tennis champion. In 1952 he went back to Sydney for a successful leg operation. In 1953 he returned to the Cootamundra firsts as a forward and was a member of their Maher Cup premiership side of 1954.
