A CONTRACT struck between the Queensland Government and the AFL during the final stages of the Gabba redevelopment may jeopardise the league's Gold Coast expansion plans.

Thursday's Herald Sun newspaper reported the AFL's ambitious plans to have a team based on the Gold Coast by 2011 could be affected by a stipulation that the club couldn't play there until there until 2016.

According to the Melbourne based tabloid, the contract states the Gabba, 80km from the Gold Coast in Brisbane, must be used for all AFL matches until the end of 2015.

The article claims the arrangement was made via Queensland government body Major Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA) and says a second AFL team based in south-east Queensland must "play one half of its AFL premiership season matches at the Gabba". The clause expires in September 2015.

AFL chief broadcasting and commercial officer Gillon McLachlan confirmed the existence of the agreement.

"As the contract currently stands, that is true," McLachlan said as to whether a Gold Coast based team would have to play at the home ground of the Brisbane Lions before the 2016 season.

McLachlan said the challenge for the AFL was to convince the Queensland Government and MSFA to amend the arrangement.

"We are aware of the agreement, we don't ever try to walk away from agreements, and part of the Gold Coast discussions has been about this," McLachlan is quoted as saying in the article.

"For the MSFA and the Government to agree to vary that agreement, they would have to be convinced that a team on the Gold Coast, which would play games outside Carrara at the Gabba, also had benefits for them.

"We, in our discussions, need to convince them of that."

A fortnight ago the AFL revealed plans to fast-track the awarding of a 17th licence to a Gold Coast consortium, as well as that of an 18th licence in west Sydney.

The AFL's failure to secure a stadium deal at Carrara was a major reason behind North Melbourne's decision last December to reject an offer to relocate to the Gold Coast.