The AFL's hype machine is kicking into overdrive ahead of Friday's AFLX tournament, but in the far-flung Victorian town of Fish Creek, supporters of the new format are tough to find.

Key points: The Alberton Football Netball League is being disbanded and it's unclear where the remaining clubs will end up

The Alberton Football Netball League is being disbanded and it's unclear where the remaining clubs will end up Club committee members say they've been forgotten by the AFL and players are moving to other teams

Club committee members say they've been forgotten by the AFL and players are moving to other teams The AFL says it is still working to find a new home for the Fish Creek team

The South Gippsland town, which proudly boasts a population of 201, is focused on a football contest much closer to home — the survival of the local club.

In this part of the world, AFLX — a modified format of AFL designed to be played on rectangular pitches and appeal to different markets — is being viewed as yet another sign of a code that is losing touch with its origins.

"That money should be going out into the country clubs, building up those leagues, building up the players," club committee member Megan Vuillermin said.

"There's a feeling that we've been forgotten about, or don't matter, that what's happening out in the country doesn't matter."

Fish Creek's plight is complicated, but it's in no way caused by a lack of on-field success.

The club has won a remarkable 36 senior premierships since its formation in 1891 — a strike rate of one flag every three-and-a-half seasons.

But its competition, the Alberton Football Netball League (AFNL), is in the process of being disbanded, as part of an AFL-led restructure of football leagues throughout the Gippsland region.

In three seasons, the AFNL has shrunk from 12 teams to six, and it's still unclear where those remaining clubs will play next year.

"The competition's dropped off and that's forced the kids to drop away and look elsewhere for good competition and makes it harder to try [to] recruit players to a six-team competition," co-captain Travis Manne said.

Supporters are concerned this season may be the last. ( ABC News: Sean Warren )

League 'won't be around next year'

Fish Creek's predicament received a brief burst of attention when the president penned an open letter to the AFL Commission last year, warning that the club was "withering before our eyes".

"While our club has battled to survive, we have seen the exorbitant energy and resources devoted to dubious AFL initiatives like AFLX. We have, frankly, wondered exactly what the priorities of your organisation are," it said.

The response from the AFL came via a lower-level official.

"We didn't get a response from the commission, which is really, really disappointing, really poor, I think, from leaders in the AFL," Ms Vuillermin said.

Club president Jason Harding said there were leagues "like the Alberton footy league — 125 years old — that won't be around next year".

"The AFL, whilst they say they care, they're not showing us anything," he said.

Fish Creek has reluctantly accepted the mantle of being a figurehead for many regional clubs that are struggling in footy's heartland.

"We don't want to be doing this, but if we stay quiet we might be gone and that's going to hurt a whole lot of volunteers, and players and families, and I don't know what the kids are going to do then," Ms Vuillermin said.

Club co-captains Travis Manne (left) and Brent Cooper have seen the league shrink to six teams. ( ABC News: Sean Warren )

Tales of "struggling country clubs" have become so commonplace, it can be tempting to shrug the shoulders and wonder what the AFL can actually do about it.

No amount of funding or support can reverse demographic trends, and force young men to move back into towns and regions where jobs no longer exist.

There's also the often futile challenge of keeping all football clubs satisfied.

At one point last year, it seemed an agreement had been struck to shift Fish Creek and the AFNL clubs into a neighbouring league, but that was over-ruled on appeal because the league in question did not want them.

The AFL's Head of Community Football, Steven Reaper, said the AFL, AFL Victoria and AFL Gippsland were still working on finding a home for the six Alberton teams.

"All parties are working together in conjunction with the affected clubs to ensure a sustainable resolution for the 2020 season is in place ahead of this season being conducted," he said.

Mr Reaper defended its development and promotion of AFLX at a time when lower-level competitions are struggling.

"We don't back away from trying to grow the game nationally at all levels," he said.

He also pointed out that AFL Victoria had increased the number of development managers in the Gippsland region from one to four in the past six years.

'Can't wait for the season to end'

Against this uncertain backdrop, Fish Creek is stoically getting on with the business of preparing for another season, fully aware it could be its last.

Numbers at pre-season are down — six players have left from last year's premiership-winning team.

Club legends Andy Kerr (left) and Cliff McGannon still turn up at training to cheer on the team. ( ABC News: Sean Warren )

In three years, multiple best-and-fairest winners have walked out the door to go play in better-standard competitions.

"We're about six weeks out from the start of the season and you find yourself saying 'I can't wait for the season to end'," Mr Harding said.

"It's a bizarre feeling to be honest."

Nevertheless, the mood at training is upbeat, and it lifts even more when club legend Andy Kerr wanders over from an adjacent bowling green, stubby in hand, to watch training.

Mr Kerr has a record that would be tough to beat anywhere in the country —13 seasons played, 11 premierships won (the other two seasons they were runners-up).

"I was very lucky, I was around at a good time, but only a fairly ordinary footballer," he said, neglecting to mention he won a best-and-fairest in 1962.

These days he spends most of his time at the bowls club, but he rarely misses a match, and is horrified by the prospect of the club going under.

"It's always been a football town, it's been a very important part of the town, and always brings the people together and is the heart and soul of the district really," he said.