Now in its strongest position yet to take control of Etihad Stadium, the AFL has held a series of talks with tenant clubs, broadcast partners and sponsors with a view to transforming its Docklands home into a wider sporting and entertainment precinct.

Still in negotiations with current owner Melbourne Stadiums Limited over the proposed early buy-out of Etihad, the league is also preparing a submission to the Victorian Government regarding a joint funding venture which would include community infrastructure around the stadium.

Pegged for revamp: Etihad Stadium at the Docklands. Credit:Craig Abraham

The push comes as the state of the stadium has become an increasing concern for the competition with a potential showdown looming over the Docklands' management's contractual undertaking to keep Etihad in a condition comparable to Australia's best stadiums.

While the AFL takes automatic ownership of Etihad for a one dollar handover in the pre-season of 2025, the league has wanted for some years to buy the stadium earlier in a bid to improve the poor financial returns to its tenant clubs but in the past has remained tens of millions of dollars apart with MSL over the purchase price.