O’Donohue’s team completed an analysis in the past 12 months of what an extra grade in the Ovens and Murray would mean and is strongly against it.

“As a result of that examination, we wouldn’t entertain the concept because it has such a negative impact on participation elsewhere,” he said.

“It would decimate Albury, Wodonga and Wangaratta’s juniors straight away, which is a crucial part of the pathway.

“It’s not creating 200 new opportunities, they’d just be taking players from somewhere else.

“You can’t have a competition go up to under 14s and have nothing for them after that, only the best players.

“That doesn’t guarantee any players would then go out to district comps, it doesn’t guarantee anything.”

O’Donohue said the examination explored two possible scenarios if changes were made, under 17s and under 14s or under 16s and under 18s competitions.

“One of them lost 800 opportunities to play, overnight, the other lost about 1000 across the region,” he said.

“We’ve dealt with it and at this point in time we don’t see a participation benefit in it and wouldn’t entertain it.”

Yarrawonga and Myrtleford saw potential in Ovens and Murray’s extra grade plan.

AFL Goulburn Murray is considering a similar proposal with the Goulburn Valley Football League pushing for under 16s in its competition in 2019, something that would impact the North East Border organisation. 

“There’s some issues in that as well because Benalla and Mansfield have got no interest in participating in that competition,” O’Donohue said.

“The proposal is far from finalised because that then has massive implications on our competition because they have under 16s and under 14s with us.”

AFL North East Border is the only body that can approve a change in grades.

Discussions are ongoing about the Ovens and Murray joining the Tallangatta, Ovens and King and Upper Murray leagues under the management of AFL North East Border.