THE Ovens and Murray and Goulburn Valley are set to face-off in interleague matches next year.
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With AFL Victoria confirming on Thursday the community championships had collapsed, as revealed by The Border Mail last week, officials have wasted little time holding preliminary discussions.
They are likely to clash on May 16 or 23.
"Once AFL Victoria announced today the championships wouldn't be going ahead, we spoke and agreed to look into it further," Ovens and Murray general manager Sean Barrett said.
"We will work with the GV to get something up for next year.
"There is certainly a strong appetite to get something up and going."
Both leagues are certainly keen to investigate what we can do in creating a rep game
- Sean Barrett
AFL Victoria made the decision to abandon the championships after receiving feedback from clubs and leagues across the state.
Increasing costs, concerns over the validity of the ranking system, inconsistent levels of competition, travel, fixturing and administrative demands on leagues were among the concerns put forward.
"Leagues who wish to participate in representative football in 2020 are encouraged to do so and AFL Victoria will continue to financially support leagues who wish to pursue representative programs," AFL Victoria said in a statement.
Barrett said the Ovens and Murray would attempt to organise two senior and junior football and netball matches against the Goulburn Valley.
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"The good thing about the GV is that while the championships won't be contested we have something to play for with the Ash-WIlson Trophy," Barrett said.
"It's something we relish playing for.
"The opportunity to provide rep football and netball is still important to the league.
"Both leagues are certainly keen to investigate what we can do in creating a rep game."
The Ovens and Murray was scheduled to play Jonathan Brown's Hampden league on the Border in May next season.