Essendon Football Club will continue to profit from poker machines in one of Australia's most disadvantaged suburbs, despite moves by rival Victorian clubs to abandon gaming revenue and a strong desire from the AFL for the competition to be pokies free.

The Bombers – whose most recent operating profit hit $4 million dollars – are currently negotiating with the City of Melton to extend their lease at the Melton Country Club beyond 2022, where Essendon operate 89 poker machines. They have another 101 machines at Windy Hill.

Essendon want to extend their lease of the Melton Country Club, and the operations of their pokies at the venue. Credit:Darrian Traynor

In the 2016-17 financial year Essendon took $11.85 million from poker machines across both venues.

Essendon declined the opportunity to comment on Monday, but The Age understands the Bombers are in discussions with the City of Melton to continue operating pokies at the venue after 2022.