If the AFL is to succeed overseas it will do so on rectangular pitches — that is the thinking behind the game's new format AFLX.

The modified seven-a-side game, with two 10-minute halves, is played on a rectangular field, as used in the rugby codes and football.

What is AFLX? The game is played on a rectangular field (100-120m x 60-70m)

The game is played on a rectangular field (100-120m x 60-70m) Each side has 10 players - seven on the field, three on the interchange

Each side has 10 players - seven on the field, three on the interchange Two 10-minute halves will be contested

Two 10-minute halves will be contested A super goal is worth 10 points

A super goal is worth 10 points A ruck ball up will be used

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said a lack of oval space led to the new format.

"The facility challenge was the original issue or the original part of the creation of this concept, and really it wasn't international it was domestically in the eastern suburbs of Sydney," McLachlan said at Tuesday's AFLX launch at Docklands in Melbourne.

"There's still so much unknown but we've got to try stuff and it's an opportunity that means we can get onto different ovals in New South Wales and internationally in different spots, and it's just a different format for a different audience."

The 2018 AFLX tournament will run February 15-17, with each day featuring two pools of three teams playing off before a grand final is held at the end of each day.

A-League venues, such as the Sydney Football Stadium, will be used in the AFLX. ( AAP: Craig Golding, File )

The tournament will be played at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium, Melbourne's Docklands and the Sydney Football Stadium.

North Melbourne's Shaun Atley said AFLX would be a fast-pace, high-scoring format with little rest for the players.

"There's barely any stop-start. Usually if you kick a goal you'll get a rest and come back to the centre square, but as soon as a goal is kicked the other team's bringing it back in," he said.

AFLX will be used to attract overseas fans, similar to last year's fixture in Shanghai. ( AAP: Tracey Nearmy )

The AFL held its first match outside of Australia and New Zealand last year, with Port Adelaide taking on the Gold Coast in Shanghai.

But McLachlan said AFLX could become a better model to sell the game.

"We have had trouble taking our game internationally. Now, this is not our traditional game AFLX, but it's got all the best bits of it," he said.

"It means that we could go to Hong Kong in November next year with not only two clubs.

"But we could take six clubs and play a mini-tournament to take our game, showcase all the best bits of it and actually not have to build infrastructure like we do in Shanghai."