The fate of Etihad Stadium could be decided this year with the AFL weighing up whether to take ownership ahead of the 2025 contract date and senior planners eyeing the site for redevelopment.

Potential new stadium sites being discussed include the North Melbourne site of the planned Metro Rail Arden train station south of Arden Street and land at Ron Barassi Snr Park near the Bolte Bridge.

Under Eddie McGuire's plan, Etihad Stadium would be demolished. Credit:Emily Godfrey

A spokesman for the AFL said it would only consider purchasing Etihad Stadium early "if the price was right and the positives of doing so significantly outweighed waiting for the current deal to expire in 2025".

He said the AFL was not considering moving the stadium and playing matches at other Melbourne venues such as Whitten Oval and Ikon Park "isn't in the AFL's current plans".