Border-Walwa looks set to play finals after a bizarre proposal was approved at an Upper Murray league delegates meeting on Monday night.
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With Bullioh, Cudgewa and Tumbarumba the only three clubs fielding reserves sides, it was proposed that the winless Magpies seniors play reserves in the opening week of finals so the third-placed Roos have an opponent.
Tumbarumba president, Mont Waters, suggested the left-field idea.
"From a league perspective we raise a lot of funds for the league over the finals series," Waters said.
"Being a final, you want a full complement of grades playing.
"Nobody was opposed to the idea."
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Tumbarumba would advance to the preliminary final a fortnight later, regardless of the result.
League operations manager Gavin Rendell confirmed the unprecedented move had been given the tick of approval.
"It was approved so there is matches played in all grades on the first week of the finals," Rendell said.
"Border-Walwa still has to run the idea by its players but they didn't think it would be an issue.
"If Border-Walwa play, Tumbarumba will go through to the preliminary final.
"At the end of the day it is a final and the clubs preferred having a match rather than having nothing.
"Yes it's an odd situation but it is what it is, we are just doing our best to make it as much like a normal finals day as we can."
Border-Walwa is battling a chronic player shortage and is on an 18-match losing streak.
The Magpies most recent victory was against Tumbarumba in round seven last year.
This season their average losing margin in 30 goals and have been beat by 200 points or more on three occasions.
Border-Walwa co-coach Ash Greenhill was unaware of the extraordinary proposal yesterday.
"I couldn't get to the meeting but I had heard rumours that it was a possibility of happening," Greenhill said.
"I'm unsure how many players would be keen to play.
"It's hard enough to find players each week as it is.
"If it does go ahead I would like to think we would have a win.
"But I haven't watched reserves all season so it's hard to comment really."
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