The AFL changed the age-limit for the NAB League - which includes the Greater Western Victoria Rebels - from under-16 and under-18 to under-17 and under-19.

The change allows juniors who missed their top-age season this year another chance in junior football.

And it's not just the elite leagues making the switch; Bendigo's Heathcote District league has also changed from under-17 to under-18 for next season.

Some football personnel in the Wimmera league have questioned if the league should make a similar switch.

AFL Wimmera-Mallee's Jason Muldoon said it was a change worth consideration, as football in the region adapts to survive after a COVID-affected year.

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"If the leagues and clubs think it's important, then the advisory board would certainly look at it and consider the pros and cons," he said.

Mr Muldoon said there were a number of factors to consider, including the impact on bottom-age players and a potential effect on reserves football.

"One side effect of raising the age-group to under-15s could be that you restrict a lot of the bottom-age kids coming in," he said.

"There is a four-year age limit that is allowed right now, just because of how quickly kids are developing physically at that age."

However, with the Ararat District Junior Football Association running an under-13 competition, this impact is far less of a factor for the Ararat region.

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Michael Driscoll, who coached Ararat's under-17 side to a grand final last year and has coached junior football for many years, said an increase at the under-14 level might suit Ararat.

"I coached under-14s for three years, and in my experience, those kids that aren't quite ready for under-17s often drop out and don't continue playing football," he said.

"If they're not quite as developed as the other kids around them, they can end up just walking away from football."

Mr Driscoll said some players also moved to the neighbouring Mininera league, where the junior age limit is 16.5.

"Some do leave to Mininera, some just don't play footy," he said.

"They might play footy with Ararat for three years, then go to Tatyoon and never come back, or walk away completely and never come back."

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The difference in age groups between the Mininera league its neighbours has long been a point of contention.

Great Western's Matt Delzotto said Mininera league clubs could benefit if the age-limit of 16.5 was increased.

"16.5 makes it pretty difficult for kids to bridge the gap between juniors and seniors," he said.

"Every league that we compete with has under-17s - so it also makes it tough to keep a hold of your kids and attract youngsters.

"We would definitely support a change."

Mr Delzotto hoped that the COVID break would give leagues and administrators time to make effective changes.

"The whole thing has given time for leagues and AFL Victoria to have a good look at things, especially the junior systems, to see if there are kinks to be ironed out," he said.

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