THE status quo remains in the Mininera and District Football League with clubs rejecting an application from Smythesdale to join.
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Smythesdale needed 75 per cent, or nine of Mininera’s 12 clubs, to vote in favour of its submission to be part of the league.
Mininera president John Box said the vote had gone against Smythesdale.
Box didn't wish to expand on how many clubs voted against the transfer request.
Smythesdale’s entry into the Mininera league would have produced a spike in travel for clubs in the south-west of the league.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur, Penshurst, Glenthompson-Dunkeld and Caramut would have all had to travel in excess of 90 minutes to play in Smythesdale.
The news is a shattering blow for Smythesdale, which remains without a league to play football and netball in next year.
Smythesdale's request to join the Maryborough Castlemaine District league was blocked in September this year and a subsequent appeal to AFL Victoria also failed.
Following that, the Central Highlands league - which has been the club's home since 2011 - indicated it did not want the Bulldogs back in season 2019.
From there, the approach to Mininera and District gained momentum, but has amounted to nothing.
