The Roos will be the only team in the Ovens and Murray league with 47 points next season after being handed an additional nine points.

The extra points allow the club to recruit a VFL player and a major country league best and fairest winner in 2019.

Corowa-Rutherglen was afforded the additional points based on its recent poor onfield record of three wins in 2018 following two winless seasons, plus a shrinking player base.

Also, handed extra points to boost the chances of climbing the ladder were this season’s wooden-spooner Wangaratta Rovers and Wodonga (six each) and North Albury and Myrtleford with four apiece.

The top-five teams for the past two seasons, Albury, Wangaratta, Wodonga Raiders, Yarrawonga and Lavington will remain on 38.

In the Tallangatta and District league, Wodonga Saints have seven extra points and will also be on the maximum allowable figure of 47 and Chiltern has an extra two points for next year.

Six clubs in the Ovens and King league, Bonnie Doon, North Wangaratta (five each) and Greta, Moyhu, Whorouly and Goorambat (four).

Roos president Graham Hosier said the additional points were certainly welcomed.

“It will be a big help for sure,” he said.

“It allows us to go out and target that marquee player from the VFL or a suburban league in Melbourne.

“It also means players from the district leagues, who are three pointers, can come in and have a shot at the higher level and we can fit them in.”

AFLNEB regional manager John O’Donohue said it was time to provide support to struggling clubs.

“On analysis of win-loss ratios and participation in finals over three to 10 years, we acknowledge the player points system, can be an obstacle to clubs and leagues becoming more competitive,” he said.

“Our intention is to provide clubs capacity to be competitive.

“While sustainability remains a high priority, the challenge has been, however, for those clubs to actually maximise the additional points allocated.”

Upper Murray league club Cudgewa was the only team which applied to AFLNEB for extra points to miss out.

But the club can appeal the decision.

AFLNEB has opted to afford extra points to battling clubs in all leagues rather than deduct from the top-end which can happen under the player points system rules.

O and M chairman David Sinclair said the extra points for five clubs in the league had come at the right time.

“The O and M fully supports any assistance AFLNEB can provide our clubs to become more competitive through player points system cap relief,” he said.

“This season there was a clear gap between the top and bottom five which impacts on spectator attendance, sponsorship and eventually club sustainability.

“Clubs have been asking for this and we’re pleased that AFL NEB are listening and acting.”

North Albury was denied an application for extra points last year as it set about rebuilding its list.

The six points handed to Wangaratta Rovers will delight incoming coach Daryn Cresswell, who can land a player straight off an AFL.

The Raiders, under the coaching of Cresswell, regularly hit the player points limit.