THE AFL is set to move its headquarters away from its current Docklands location as part of its deal with the Victorian state government, according to reports.

The Victorian state government recently signed a $225m deal with the AFL that will see the Grand Final stay at the MCG until 2057, while the league will receive funding to revamp Etihad Stadium, Ikon Park and other grounds.

Veteran Fairfax journalist Caroline Wilson said on 3AW the government and AFL were refusing to release details of the deal for the AFL’s new home.

“There is a missing link and the deal is done and for some reason the government is refusing to release details of the deal that it has done with the AFL for the AFL’s new home, AFL headquarters,” Wilson told Sportsday.

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Wilson said the AFL had effectively been given a “parcel of land” by the state government that supplemented the $225m they were receiving in the deal.

AFL House. (Photo by Paul Rovere/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

“What I think has happened is the AFL asked for $300m and some say they asked for more earlier, but they ended up getting $225m to redevelop the Docklands ground and some precinct around it,” Wilson said.

“The AFL offices will move from there. A parcel of land has been virtually given to the AFL — virtually given to the AFL — which is where that missing $75m or thereabouts comes up.”

Wilson said she believed the government’s reluctance to release details of this part of the deal was out of a worry of the perception of giving the AFL an “enormous fillip” in the form of land.

“I think the AFL will own the freehold,” Wilson said.

“This is going to be an enormous, enormous fillip for the AFL and I wonder how the government is wondering how it’s going to look — I’m wondering whether that’s the reason the government’s refusing to release details of this.”

As for where the AFL’s new headquarters will be located, another Docklands location seems likely — though land near the MCG could be a possibility.

“When you talk to most people in footy, they assume it’s going to be around Etihad Stadium, somewhere around there. Across the road, nearer the water,” Wilson said.

“Maybe it’s going to be near the MCG, maybe the AFL’s moving back to Jolimont.”