Wales voiced his concerns about the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League opting to change its oldest age group from under-16s to under-17s next season.

Myrtleford won the O and M thirds premiership for the second time in its history this year after not fielding a side in the competition in 2018.

The Alpine Saints built their success off the back of a strong season in the WDJFL under-16s in 2018 and Wales wants to maintain that two-year gap between its top junior side and the thirds.

Myrtleford hasn't ruled out a switch to the Albury Wodonga Junior Football League which has maintained its under-16s.

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"All options are open," Wales said.

"I'm really sceptical that Wangaratta going to under-17s is going to help us in any way.

"Initially it's fine because we will work towards the top-age under-17s playing thirds to help our numbers at under-18 level.

"It will get to a point where it will be all about winning for someone and it could mean we've got no thirds."

Wales believes problems are being covered up rather than solved by changing age groups.

"Somehow they've got to come up with new initiatives to get kids playing footy rather than changing age groups," he said.

"I don't think that's an area that has to grow, the area is lower age groups like Auskick, under-12s.

"It mightn't happen next year, but the O and M might have under-16s in a year's time."

Wales would have no qualms about fielding an under-16s side in the Ovens and Murray.

"It would suit me better to have under-16s in the O and M than under-17s in the Wang and District junior comp," he said.

"It seems to work in the Tallangatta league, you'll still get that group of volunteers that will follow their kids.

"People have to understand that every action will have a reaction and not necessarily the reaction you're looking for either."

AFL North East Border regional general manager John O'Donohue was disappointed with Wales' response given Myrtleford didn't contribute to the process when they were given the opportunity to.

"This has been an extensive process of changing the age groups from 16s to 17s," O'Donohue said.

"Key stakeholders in Myrtleford, Wang Rovers and Wangaratta were given the opportunity to participate in that process and only Wangaratta attended the meetings we put on.

"No club or the league (Ovens and Murray) themselves gave us any feedback or contribution to the process.

"We're comfortable with where it's at and all clubs are keen to give it an opportunity to work for the benefit of the kids that are in the competition at the moment."

AWJFL president Stuart Lingham hasn't received a transfer application from Myrtleford as of yet.

"Who knows what might play out, but as long as kids get looked after and get a game of footy, we'll look at anything that might come up," he said.

"It's all about getting kids out on the park and enjoying their footy."