OLD Fashioned kick-to-kick will return to the MCG and Etihad Stadium in season 2016.

Foxfooty.com.au understands both venues have committed to the initiative for most Sunday matches from Rounds 1 to 8, however they are still negotiating which games it will occur at.

The post-game pastime is part of an ongoing, competition-wide plan to take fan engagement to another level, with a focus on family-friendly environment.

However some fixtures will be off limits, with the MCC and Etihad Stadium keen to avoid wear and tear on the playing surface during the wet winter months.

Round 18

The MCC will not allow kick-to-kick when there is a curtain raiser fixtures before the AFL match. Melbourne’s ANZAC DAY Eve clash with Richmond on April 24 has already been ruled out.

Curtain raisers are likely to be more frequent in the future, with the league conscious fans will need to arrive at the venue earlier than previously due to stricter security measures.

Bag checks are set to become more rigorous, meaning supporters that otherwise would have been seated 10 minutes before the first bounce risk missing the start of the game.

MCG kick to kick. Picture: Jay Town Source: News Corp Australia

As a way of combating this, the league is keen to attract people to the ground earlier to avoid a rush of fans at the gates. In particular, second-tier fixtures are seen as an incentive to get more people into the venues earlier.

AFL clubs would complete their pre-game warm ups at half-time of the curtain raiser then run out on game time with the VFL sides still on the arena to create a suburban feel.

In 2015, the MCG hosted curtain raisers between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs’ women's teams, VFL outfits Collingwood and the Northern Blues as well as an AFL Academy match.

When and how many will be played in 2016 is yet to be communicated to the venues, but an official announcement is expected in the next fortnight.

Pre-game warm ups could also be scrapped to boost the atmosphere by eliminating the delay between the players running onto the ground and the first bounce.

St Kilda was the only club to run out less than five minutes before the bounce last year, with the club using the extra time to build anticipation and engage with the crowd via it’s match day MC’s at home games.

One club fitness manager told Foxfooty.com.au that although he expects their would be player backlash to limiting the final warm-up to just quick strides, he does not expect the proposed change to impact a player’s physical preparation for a game.

Before the 2015 season, the AFL asked for clubs to submit fan engagement proposals ranging from pre-match entertainment to concourse activities.

The league also subsidised the cost of food and beverages at Etihad Stadium in a bid to bring fans back to live footy.

The price of the traditional meat pie was cut to $3 on Sundays, while regular hot chips went from $5.60 to $4. Free popcorn and fairy floss was also handed out at Etihad Stadium Sunday games, along with free water.

Tom Morris is on Twitter: @tommorris32