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THE alignment between the Western Bulldogs and Williamstown appears on is last legs as a major shakeup in the VFL continues.
With both clubs weighing up their options after a tense season, there is a strong chance the Bulldogs will now field stand-alone side in the state competition next season.
In what would be a popular move for fans, the team could potentially play out of Whitten Oval with selected games further afield in the western suburbs.
It is understood the Seagulls held a board meeting last Friday night to discuss moves to break away from the Dogs after a season of bickering over the delicate balancing act between winning games and developing young AFL listed players.
Williamstown general manager Brendan Curry last night refused to speculate on when the alignment would end, but he earlier this month said the Seagulls were eyeing a stand alone existence.
Bulldogs chief executive Simon Garlick said the club had a "strategic objective" to have a stand-alone team at some time in the future.
Both clubs have an agreement in place until the end of 2014, but that can still end if Williamstown walks.
The VFL is already expanding to 14 teams next season, with Essendon and Bendigo parting ways to create separate teams in the feeder league.
Richmond and Coburg will combine for the final time next season, before the Tigers go it alone in 2014.
The Dogs remain diplomatic about the relationship with Williamstown, but the move to have their own team would be a significant boost to senior coach Brendan McCartney's teaching methods.
It would cost the Dogs about $400,000 to join the likes of Collingwood, Geelong and the Bombers in fielding their own reserves team.
With the landscape changing at a rapid pace in the VFL, the league's general manager Grant Williams will detail plans for the future in this weekend's VFL Record.
Williams and other AFL Victoria staffers are adamant there is no crisis despite the latest spat between aligned clubs.
"The competition will always be evolving," Williams said.
He denied speculation that all AFL clubs would jump ship and end alignments.
"There will always be a combination of partial alignments, alignments and stand alone teams," Williams said.
"We think the standard of competition is very good and provides ample opportunity for AFL players to develop and gives ample opportunity for non-listed AFL players to develop as well."
Williams distanced himself from any tension between aligned clubs, saying that was a matter for the clubs.
But AFL Victoria has been in discussions with both clubs on an on-going basis.
Williams confirmed that it was possible that 15 VFL team competition could be next year if the Dogs and Seagulls split.
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