ST KILDA is "very close" to finalising a deal with the AFL to see improved financial returns from games it hosts at Etihad Stadium, with a result almost certain to come before the start of next season.

The AFL purchased the Docklands-based venue last October in a huge win for most of the tenant clubs, which have received relatively low revenue compared to what they make when hosting games at the MCG.

Saints CEO Matt Finnis told reporters at Seaford on Friday a resolution was not far away.

"We've been working all year with the AFL and the other tenant clubs on improving the economics of Etihad Stadium. We're getting very close to nailing that down," Finnis said.

"We think we're on the cusp of getting a deal at Etihad Stadium which will now underpin our financial sustainability in the future."

Finnis said the increased funds would allow for more investment in the club's football department, with a new deal to be done before round one in March next year.

"We'd be incredibly disappointed if we hadn't resolved that before the first ball is bounced," Finnis said.

"It's a great stadium – people love watching footy there – but it's been a bit of a financial hamstring for our footy club and we're really confident that we're going to overcome that.

"That will now allow us to invest in our football program to levels that we haven't been able to do before."

Meanwhile, Finnis set high expectations for St Kilda next year.

"What we've seen over the last couple of years is that if you're playing the right kind of footy at the right time of the year, then who knows what can happen? We beat the Bulldogs in 2016 on the way to their flag. We knocked over the Tigers this year on the way to their flag, but the reality is we haven't been playing good enough footy on a consistent basis," Finnis said.

"We've got to be better at that but we believe we can be a contender, and every single one of our players out there training today has that belief, and who am I to stifle that?

"That's our mantra. We want to be a contender."