The name of the AFL's pre-season competition is set to change, with NAB deciding not to continue its sponsorship.

The bank has instead decided to sponsor the inaugural women's competition, leaving league executives on the lookout for a new sponsor.

The AFL's pre-season competition will have a new name. Credit:Quinn Rooney

The AFL has confirmed to Fairfax Media that while the format of the pre-season competition won't change for 2017 – each team to play three games in four weeks – the name of "challenge" is likely to change at the discretion of the new sponsor.

The format may change from 2018 onwards, meaning the pre-season competition could feasibly return to being worthy of a prize for the best-performing team.