The summit was attended by more than 50 people representing local and state government, AFL Victoria, junior and senior leagues, club administrators and umpires.

It was the single most important meeting in the nearly 50-year history of the junior game in the region, and the catalyst for a co-ordinated approach to its survival.

AFL Victoria's manager of community development Peter McDougall said the summit was the first step in a process that may take up to a decade, and involve ground-breaking cultural and generational change.

"It [the summit] was a positive get-together and everyone there agreed it would take a united effort. The things we do that come from the summit have to be for the greater good. It's difficult to do things for club specifics, but we will put all the support and help in place we can in Dandenong.

"But the future is still very unpredictable based on the changing demographic. You can do a lot of work in that area for little return, and we've all got to understand that it's not a short-term plan.

"It may take five to 10 years. Some of it will be generational, some of it will be cultural change, and understanding the people living in the area about what their priorities are. Their [priorities] may not necessarily be football or sport.

"The main concerns for new arrivals are about survival, earning an income, having somewhere to live, and putting food on the table."

Southern Football League general manager Wayne Holdsworth said the summit was an "outstanding success" and that the future of local junior football looked brighter because of it.

"It was an outstanding success because we were able to action some things, and develop a co-ordinated approach for the future. It was time well spent for all junior and senior clubs in the area. Junior clubs are finding it tough and need all the help they can get. The future of junior footy looks bright because we now have a plan of attack whereas before it looked rocky."