After several discussions with the Tallangatta and District league club, the Bulldogs have opted to stand alone and defend their premiership.

AFL NEB had also been involved in the merger discussions after the governing body rejected Bullioh's application to join the TDFL.

Wodonga Saints had voted on the merger and, although it fell short of the required numbers, the club is believed to have been keen to explore the option further.

Bullioh president Peter Dean said the club is pleased to have a clear pathway after a tumultuous 12 months.

"We have had strategies and ideas and covered all bases with the Tallangatta league, merger talks and also staying in the Upper Murray and now is the time to move on," Dean said.

"At the start we always said we would stay in the Upper Murray if it was a vibrant comp.

"If you go about griping about things in general life it won't work out so we will get on with it and be positive and what will be will be."

Bullioh has moved quickly to shore up its list for a tilt at a hat-trick of Upper Murray league flags with premiership players Joe Bolton and Kelvin Wallace signing as co-coaches.

Midfielders Hamish Clark and Josh Walters have committed as assistants.

Clark was targeted by Hume, Tallangatta and District and Ovens and Murray league clubs but has opted to remain with the Bulldogs for another season.

Bullioh wanted out of the Upper Murray league mainly due to the collapse of its reserve grade competition with only three clubs having sides this year.

The league has since dropped the grade next season with clubs fielding only senior and junior sides in 2020.

There was also an unsuccessful push from sections of the league to form a combined Upper Murray league team and play in the TDFL.