THE Victorian Country Football League has hammered the final nail into the coffin of the Benalla and District Football League.
The league, Victoria's smallest with just five clubs, will disband at the end of the season.
The VCFL board's decision, announced last week, ends months of speculation about the league's future, which has been in jeopardy since sixth club Devenish went into recess at the start of the 2007 season.
The decision to wind up the league was made as part of the VCFL's four-month review of football in the Benalla region.
Reigning premier Bonnie Doon, undefeated this season, is hot favourite to clinch the league's final flag.
Despite earlier VCFL suggestions that none of the five remaining Benalla league clubs would be viable in another competition, the board has given the green light for all clubs to pursue a future in neighbouring leagues.
The board agreed with the the review panel's recommendation that Longwood seek a transfer to the Kyabram and District league, while Goorambat and Swanpool aim for a home in the Ovens and King league.
The board has advised Bonnie Doon to seek a transfer to either the Ovens and King league or division two of the Yarra Valley Mountain District competition.
Ovens and King league chairman John Muraca told The Weekly Times last month that his competition was "quite receptive" to adding new clubs. "Our clubs realise that country footy is going through massive changes," Muraca said.
The future of the remaining club, Tatong, is in doubt.
The review panel concluded the current number of district league clubs in the Benalla area was unsustainable, and questioned Tatong's viability.
The panel's report stated: "Seeking a partner to merge for season 2010 is the best future option for Tatong as it does not present as a club which can reasonably be expected to be viable for, or in another league."
But the VCFL board elected to give the Magpies permission to seek a transfer to the Ovens and King league.
Tatong's future as a stand-alone club now depends on the Ovens and King league's willingness to accept it.
As part of the review, the VCFL board announced no Benalla club transferring to the Kyabram or Ovens and King league would be required to field underage teams next year.
Clubs in the Benalla league currently field only seniors and reserves. Junior footballers play in the Benalla and District Junior Football League. The VCFL also pledged an examination of underage football in the region by December 31.
By - Roslyn Lanigan.
http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2009/08/12/102291_country-footy.html
August 12, 2009.