AFL Goldfields announced on Monday it would grant the CHFL a two-year trial that would see its under-14.5 age group changed to under-15s and under-17.5s to under-18s.

The BFL had initially opposed the change, as it had done three years previously, over fears it would force even more junior players to depart the league.

The BFL currently has under-12s, under-14s, under-16.5s and under-18.5s.

However, BFL operations manager Aaron Nunn said the league only opposed the change out of its own interest - not to try and hurt the Central Highlands.

CHFL president Eddy Comelli said on Monday he was disappointed the BFL had tried to block the change.

"The Ballarat Football Netball League has been disappointed at how our objection to the recent proposal put forward by the Central Highland Football League to alter their junior football age group structure has been portrayed to the general public," Nunn said in a written statement.

"It should be noted that the BFNL commends the CHFL for taking steps to strengthen their junior competition, which in turn helps ensure the long term viability of their clubs. The BFNL took the same approach six years ago when we realigned our age groups for the same reasons."

Nunn also said the Ballarat league had put a number of strategies in place in recent years to assist other leagues, including a cap of 55 players for each age group and an interchange agreement that allowed BFL players that were not selected or had a bye to play in the CHFL.

"The BFNL does not see ourselves as being in competition with the CHFL, rather we see ourselves being partners in our national game, and recognize the importance that we work cooperatively to promote the game locally," Nunn said.

"While the BFNL is disappointed that the AFL Goldfields Commission has voted to approve the CHFL age group restructure, we also understand that the decision was made as it was considered to be the right decision to grow participation in the game in the region."

Nunn said the league would continue to monitor the increasing trend of BFL juniors leaving for the CHFL, with possible changes on the horizon if the departures continued.

READ THE STATEMENT IN FULL HERE:

The Ballarat Football Netball League has been disappointed at how our objection to the recent proposal put forward by the Central Highland Football League to alter their junior football age group structure has been portrayed to the general public.

It should be noted that the BFNL commends the CHFL for taking steps to strengthen their junior competition which in turn help ensure the long term viability of their clubs.

The BFNL took the same approach 6 years ago when we realigned our age groups for the same reasons.

The BFNL wish to point out that the BFNL did oppose the CHFL proposal due to concerns over the impact the proposed changes may have on the BFNL Junior Competition.

The BFNL based our objection to the proposal on facts that were presented to the Commission on clearance data collected from the past 5 years, which highlighted that any additional increase in clearance from the BFL Junior Clubs to the CHFLJunior Clubs will put significant pressure on some BFL Junior Clubs to field 2 sides in each BFL junior competition.

The Ballarat FNL has implemented several key strategies in previous years to assist surrounding Leagues as we recognize our Junior competition is the biggest in the Region, and we recognize our responsibility to ensure the game continues to grow, especially in rural and isolated areas.

Examples of strategies we have implemented in recent times include:

- Placing a cap of 55 players on each of our age groups so that clubs cannot accepted unlimited registrations. This strategy has forced players to sign with clubs who have room in their cap and also encourages players to move out to play in surrounding leagues.

- Introduced a structure of two teams per age group to limit the amount of kids playing in the Ballarat FNL and encouraging some players to filter out into neighboring Leagues.

- Introduce an interchange agreement that allows BFNL registered players to compete with CHFL clubs if they miss out on a game with their BFNL club or if their Club has a bye. This has allowed BFNL players to remain with their club and assist CHFL clubs to fill their junior sides.

The Ballarat FNL is fully supportive of initiatives and strategies to increase participation levels of Australian Rules Football in the Region, but also recognize our responsibility to protect the best interests and viability of our own member clubs.

The BFNL does not see ourselves as being in competition with the CHFL, rather we see ourselves being partners in our national game, and recognize the importance that we work co operatively to promote the game locally in trying achieve the AFL’s core objectives in growing the game.

In closing, whilst the BFNL is disappointed that the AFL Goldfields Commission has voted to approve the CHFL age group restructure we also understand that the decision was made as it was considered to be the right decision to grow participation in the game in the region.

The BFNL is committed to continual research into the health and viability of our clubs and we will continue to collect data on clearances to surrounding Leagues and player numbers within our own competition.

Should the trends of player clearances of BFNL players to CHFL clubs continue, the BFNL will be forced to look at our own structure and what is best for our clubs and their long term viability.

This will include a potential rethink of the strategies and policies we have implemented in the past to assist surrounding Leagues.