The Ovens and Murray has confirmed plans to expand it's netball and football competitions by the 2022 season.
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An expansion would see under-16 football and under-15 netball introduced, with the current under-16's netball grade increased to under-17's.
The changes are still dependent on the backing of 75 percent of clubs and the approval of AFL North East Border.
O and M chairman and former Albury-Wodonga Junior Football league director David Sinclair is confident it's the way of the future, with rival league Goulburn Valley already adopting a similar format.
"We believe it's going to help clubs and the league grow," Sinclair said.
"It's not a silver bullet, but it's going to assist in increasing the volunteer pool, bring more people through the gates and teenagers will benefit from the experience of engaging and learning from their older role models.
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"In football, there's significant attrition from under-14's going into under-16's and bringing the current under-16 structure under the O and M banner and these players into semi-elite level, I think would go a long way in negating that drop off.
"I'm sure it will be just as attractive for the netballers at under-15 level to come into the club environment and enjoy the benefits that go with it."
O and M Hall of Famer and Yarrawonga coach Tracy Gillies has thrown her support behind the proposal after North Albury's Paula Cary recently voiced her concerns.
"I think for our clubs to survive we need to cater for families," Gillies said.
"I was very much in favour of the 16 and under grade and that took quite a while to be accepted as well.
"The argument would be that a lot of grounds don't have two courts and you'll need to find more volunteers to coach and umpire.
"I understand that, but we're competing with a lot of minor leagues who cater for entire families.
"Often we, as smaller towns, then struggle to get the kids to then come to our club."
A fourth grade of football was mooted 10 years ago but clubs were against the idea.
League officials hope it will be different this time, however, Sinclair admits there will be some collateral damage to the Albury-Wodonga Junior Football league.
"With major change like this there will be issues at both club and league level, but nothing we see as being insurmountable," Sinclair said.
"With six clubs having lights there's opportunity for either an under-18 or under-16 game after seniors, or the odd game on a Sunday."