AFL Wimmera Mallee hosted a directions meeting on Monday night and representatives from Horsham District and Wimmera league clubs attended.

Club representatives at the meeting cited lack of numbers, volunteers and inequality between teams as important issues that needed to be addressed.

AFL Wimmera Mallee’s Bruce Petering said population decline was the most significant factor affecting regional clubs.

“People are finding it hard to find players and there is an increasing burden on volunteers,” Mr Petering said.

“We need to start looking at the health of the game before things become urgent.”

Mr Petering said everyone at the meeting agreed there needed to be a review into football and netball in the region.

“Our priority is the clubs – regardless of leagues or governing bodies, it’s the clubs that need to survive,” he said.

Mr Petering said from the meeting, AFL Wimmera Mallee would develop a framework outlining how the region could move forward.

Laharum Football Netball Club president Nadine Miller said a direction was needed.

”There is too much red tape around running a club, there are also issues with recruitment, scoreline gaps and whether we should have a combined league with promotion and relegation,” she said.

“It's getting harder to get volunteers because of all the red tape. 

“We all want to keep country footy alive and we need to implement structures to do that.”

Horsham Demons Football Netball Club chairman Rod Dumesny said all clubs were in the same boat.

“We all have dwindling numbers, which will affect our futures,” he said.

“If people aren’t struggling for numbers this year, they will next year.

“We have to get players from somewhere, which in turn hurts other clubs. It’s a vicious cycle. 

“It was great to talk about the issues; there is no point in putting our heads in the sand.”

Wimmera-Mallee chief commissioner John Smith said a new vision was needed to ensure football was sustainable in the region.

“We need to listen to the people on the ground,” he said.