An email sent to clubs and leagues by the region's administrative body reveals the deadline for final recommendations arising from its major review has been pushed back to allow more feedback to be obtained.

In the update, AFL Goldfields has provided two clear options for the CHFL board and its affiliated clubs, the Maryborough Castlemaine District league and Lexton to consider before providing a preference.

Lexton has emerged as the sole MCDFNL entity that will join the CHFL clubs in season 2019.

Both options involve splitting the current CHFL structure, with one based on competitiveness and the other on location.

AFL Goldfields has noted that a geographical split has had more support from the CHFL clubs.

The first option would see divisions “based largely on the strength of their senior football side”.

Under this proposal, teams would essentially battle it out next season knowing their finishing position will determine which league they play in during 2019 and beyond.

There would be 10 sides in the top division - to be named the Central Highlands Football League - and could include Sebastopol. The Kookaburras have made it clear they wish to remain in the Ballarat league, and will do so in 2018, but must meet a range of on-field and off-field criteria to keep their place.

If Sebastopol stays in its current home, the top 10 sides in the CHFL at the end of the 2018 season would form the CHFL in 2019. The bottom seven and Smythesdale – provided the Bulldogs return to senior competition – would join Lexton in a new Goldfields District league.

It is proposed promotion and relegation between the two leagues could occur.

If split under this model at the end of last season – and assuming Sebastopol is in the BFL – the CHFL would include Hepburn, Beaufort, Buninyong, Springbank, Gordon, Waubra, Bungaree, Daylesford, Dunnstown and Learmonth.

The Goldfields District competition would then include Ballan, Creswick, Rokewood-Corindhap, Newlyn, Carngham-Linton, Clunes, Skipton, Smythesdale and Lexton.

The geographical split also has the potential to include Sebastopol in the CHFL.

If the Kookaburras stay in the BFL, the east division model would include nine teams comprising of Hepburn, Newlyn, Buninyong, Springbank, Gordon, Ballan, Bungaree, Daylesford and Dunnstown and would be known as the Central Highlands Football League.

The west division would be called the Goldfields District league and include Learmonth, Waubra, Creswick, Rokewood-Corindhap, Beaufort, Carngham-Linton, Clunes, Skipton, Smythesdale and Lexton.

The email states that should Sebastopol remain in the BFL and a decision be made to split based on location, AFL Goldfields “will continue discussions with the Carisbrook FNC (or any other interested club) regarding their possible future affiliation in the CHFL to try and make it a 10 team competition.”

The email, written by AFL Goldfields general manager Rod Ward, said there is a general acceptance across the region that for all clubs to have a viable and sustainable future, changes to competition structures were required.

“However, it has proven difficult to identify an alternative competition structure option that is widely supported by the majority of affiliated leagues and clubs,” he wrote.

All parties included in the email have been asked to provide feedback by close of business on November 10.

The original deadline for a final report had been October 30, but has now been pushed back to November 30.