LONG-time Upper Murray official Jonathon Pole has welcomed the competition's decision to form a league amalgamation working party.
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Pole plans to offer his services to join a nine-member panel after being involved in a push for clubs to merge and join the Tallangatta and District league last year.
AFL NEB has backed the formation of the working party to provide "another option" as the league continues to battle dwindling numbers.
"Personally I'm 100 per cent behind thoroughly looking at it," Pole said.
"I'll put my hand up to join the working party and see what happens.
"It's a good opportunity to go forward.
"It has to have full club support for it to work and the community now has the opportunity to buy into it."
A working party of up to seven people, plus a facilitator and secretary, will be tasked with developing a model for a amalgamated club which supports football and netball.
Interest has already been shown by several members of the Upper Murray community.
AFL NEB general manager John O'Donohue believes it is crucial for the region to have an alternative.
"The working party should be representative of local clubs with members individually and collectively displaying the necessary skills, experiences, impartiality and vision to meet the stated purpose," O'Donohue said.
If the league amalgamated, it would have to be accepted by Tallangatta and District league clubs.
The Upper Murray dropped to five clubs this year after Border-Walwa went into recess.
It will play only senior and junior football following the demise of the reserve grade competition if it can overcome coronavirus and bushfire obstacles.
One club official said on Wednesday that "football isn't a priority" in the Upper Murray at the moment.
A league amalgamation gathered strong support from some quarters last year before clubs voted to continue in its present form.
Bullioh unsuccessfully tried to join the TDFL and was knocked back by an appeals board.
A working party is set to be in place by next week with O'Donohue confident a proposal will be in place by August 15 to fall into line with AFL Victoria Country rules and regulations.
Meanwhile, The Coodabeen Champions have helped raise $2000 for the competition after staging a special lockdown show in Melbourne which was streamed into the Upper Murray.
The money will be used to assist the league in finding a way for footy and netball to continue to be played.
