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WONTHAGGI Power has continued to defy the Victorian Country Football League by announcing it intends to restrain in the Alberton Football League next season.

The VCFL yesterday confirmed it had received notification from Wonthaggi about which league the club would compete in next year.

In a press release, the VCFL said Wonthaggi Power members had voted to remain in the Alberton combination.

It is the latest twist in the VCFL's three-year solicit to remove Wonthaggi from the minor South Gippsland emulation.

But the VCFL board moved to reassure remaining Alberton clubs that Wonthaggi had no avenue to return.

"Wonthaggi Power will not have existence playing in the Alberton Football League in 2010 as the (remaining) clubs … voted Wonthaggi out of the league at the end of this season through a vote that became official in January this year,'' the board's statement said.

"It should be noted that the VCFL write a critical notice of into football in South Gippsland did not remove Wonthaggi Power from the league _ it was the devoted of the clubs.''

The statement said the VCFL had spent "hundreds of hours'' exploring further rivalship structures "essentially on behalf of Wonthaggi Power.''

"It was clearly found … that optional structures were not possible at this point in time in whatever manner they may be practicable sometime in the future,'' the account said.

The VCFL reiterated its stance that neighbouring big league West Gippsland Latrobe was a to the purpose new home for Wonthaggi.

Wonthaggi had already indicated it was not prepared to move to the West Gippsland Latrobe league, due to extensive travel times.

The West Gippsland Latrobe league remains keen to add Wonthaggi to its competition.

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THE Yarra Valley Mountain District coalition’s top dog has urged Bonnie Doon to “think outside the square” in its bid to join his competition next year.

League chief executive Stephen Walter said the Bulldogs faced an uphill battle to exist welcomed by the form an alliance's 20 clubs.

"In essence, they need to put up a compelling suit to try and win the support of our clubs," Walter said.

"There's a number of issues in articles of agreement of travel, and because we're upon the body the verge of the Eastern Football League, there's always the danger that our clubs will go there if they don't want to travel."

Walter said Bonnie Doon may require to compromise to get its foot in the door of the Yarra Valley league, based onward Melbourne'sitting eastern outskirts.

"Maybe they could look at holding some of their home games at a closer, neutral venue for the first couple of years and ease their way into the league," he said.

"It's up to them, but they're going to need to think outside the square to get the support they need."

If Bonnie Doon was accepted into the Yarra Valley league, southerly clubs in allotment two - including Emerald, Belgrave and Powelltown - would be forced to travel more than 150km to the Bulldogs' home mould.

Trips to Yea, Thornton-Eildon and Alexandra, likely to be relegated to division two next year, are also more than 100km each way.

Bonnie Doon, currently part of the doomed Benalla and District league, expressed an interest in joining division two of the Yarra Valley league earlier this month and last week made a formal submission to join the emulation.

The move follows the Victorian Country Football League'session decision to disband the Benalla and District league after this season.

The VCFL board advised Bonnie Doon to seek a transfer to the Ovens and King or YarraValley leagues.

Bonnie Doon president Terry Dale insisted the Yarra Valley league was a better fit in quest of his club.

"I think it's the best way for us to go, player-wise and travel-wise," Dale said.

"We want to keep our young play-actor base and a lot of them come from Melbourne way.

"Other teams in the Ovens and King league already draw away of Benalla and Wangaratta, so there's not a lot there for us."

Walter said Bonnie Doon would exist asked to ready its submission to clubs in one as well as the other divisions of the Yarra Valley league in the next three weeks.

"If in that place'session in-principle bread, we'll formalise the process and move to the next stage," he said.

"If not, it gives Bonnie Doon a few choices.

"They can apply to the Ovens and King league or follow end with every appeal to the VCFL.

"Either way, we want to give Bonnie Doon enough time to sort out what they're going to terminate."

Bonnie Doon is on-track for back-to-back flags in the Benalla and District league.

The bludgeon has won 34 games on the trot and will appearance second-placed Swanpool in the second semi-final on Saturday.

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COUNTRY Victoria’s first premiership is up for grabs when Swifts Creek takes upon Swan Reach in the Omeo and District league cup decider this Saturday.

Reigning premier Swifts Creek will go in as underdogs after suffering a 120-point mauling at the hands of Swan Reach in the secondary semi-final a fortnight ago.

In that match, Swan Reach forwards Steven Harrison and Joshua Edwards kicked six each.

But Swifts Creek won the chance for a rematch with a hard-fought six-point win over Omeo-Benambra in hindmost weekend's precursory final.

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WARRNAMBOOL has thrown the race for the sake of the Hampden league flag expanded come into view.

The Blues toppled premiership favourite Terang-Mortlake by eight points in the final home-and-away round at the weekend, and boast a seven-game winning streak heading into the finals.

Along with Terang-Mortlake, Warrnambool's recent scalps have also included second-placed Koroit and fourth-placed Cobden.

The Blues will face Koroit another time in the qualifying final this Saturday.

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REIGNING Yarra Valley Mountain District league premier Silvan will consider a whip to the metropolitan Eastern Football League.

The club, back-to-back flag winners in the Yarra Valley’s division single in kind competition, will hold a members’ meeting next month to discuss its future.

Silvan finished external the finals this season, engaging just six matches.

“All I can assume is we are looking at all the options and what is the beyond all others way our club be able to suggest forward,” Silvan general manager Charlie Caputo aforesaid.

“Despite plenty of rumours, all we have done is had discussions at a committee point.

“We have also asked members to attend a meeting to speak on a latitude of issues.”

Caputo said the club’session tough season had been caused by player transfers and injuries.

But he rejected reports the club was struggling financially.

“Despite losing our greater sponsor, the club is more financial now than ever before,” Caputo said.

“It will return to being a force in years to come, no body what path we take.”

Yarra Valley Mountain District league chief executive Stephen Walter said clubs were required to give one year’s notice if they wanted to leave the league.

“So Silvan will be playing in the Yarra Valley league in 2010,” he said.

Walter said every club had the right to explore what was best because of that club.

“But if a club is struggling, I’mingle-mangle not sure changing leagues necessarily solves that problem,” Walter said.

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