A trio of AFL clubs is eyeing off Tasmania — not as a home away from home for their football clubs, but for their potential National Basketball League (NBL) basketball teams.

The ABC understands three major Australian Football League (AFL) clubs have discussed the prospect of forming a partnership with Tasmania to field a team in an expanded NBL.

Hobart Chargers president David Bartlett confirmed that three Melbourne-based clubs had approached him, but would not confirm which ones.

"Over recent weeks, a number of AFL clubs have approached me as president of the Chargers to discuss opportunities to work together to bring NBL to Tasmania," he said.

"All of these conversations are at an early stage, but it does indicate that the NBL is actively working with AFL clubs on potential expansion."

A Chargers-AFL club hybrid team could play five NBL games in Tasmania across the summer months, but it's understood a "fly-in fly-out" model isn't on the table.

Currently, North Melbourne and Hawthorn are locked into Tasmanian Government-backed deals to play AFL matches in the state, while Collingwood has recently established its Tasmanian Magpies team that participates in the Australian Netball League.

In February last year, NBL CEO Larry Kestelman said that it would be "logical" for AFL clubs to align with NBL clubs, so their brands could be represented in two major leagues for the entire year.

The NBL is looking to expand before a new TV rights deal is signed off.

In 2016, Bartlett declared he wanted his Hobart Chargers SEABL club to be "NBL ready" within three years.

Last year, the club unveiled a revamped look, shifted its home games to from the New Town Sports Centre to the Derwent Entertainment Centre, and significantly reduced its debt in a bid to make a play at joining the national competition.

It was also revealed by the ABC in August last year that the Tasmanian Government was in discussions with the Melbourne United NBL club about a potential partnership which would see it play games in the state.