NEXT year's JLT Community Series could be reduced from three games per side to two, but might also feature matches played under the new AFLX format. 

AFL football operations manager Simon Lethlean told AFL Exchange on Tuesday the League had yet to finalise the structure of next year's pre-season competition.

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"It's certainly in review as to whether we play three or two games," Lethlean said. 

"We could keep it the same as last year or we could play one less game and give AFLW a bit more focus as well. 

"There are a few options around." 

Over the past three pre-season competitions, each team has played three games, with no finals, while in 2014 each team played two games. 

But the introduction of AFLX matches, possibly at the start of the pre-season competition, would add a new flavour to the JLT Community Series. 

AFLX is a seven-a-side full-contact version of football played on rectangular soccer-sized grounds over 10-minute quarters.

It has been floated the AFL will hold the first AFLX competition featuring AFL teams in this year's pre-finals bye weekend, which Lethlean said remained the League's first preference.

However, the AFL footy boss said the shortened format could also be unveiled next summer.

"We've been pretty clear now we are going to trial this concept at some stage whether that's in the celebration of football weekend in the (pre-finals) bye week or whether we do it as a curtain-raiser to International Rules later in the year, or whether we make it part of the pre-season competition as part of a preparatory comp for the players," Lethlean said.

"We'll look at it, we want to do it. We'll need the club and player support to get there with it, so we'll discuss with the coaches tonight their views and see where we get to."

Lethlean said North Melbourne had trialed AFLX this pre-season as part of its match simulation sessions with positive results. 

"We did this with North Melbourne in the pre-season this year and they had the GPS units on their players and it was far and away their most intense session of their pre-season," Lethlean said.

"They enjoyed it, so if we changed the pre-season structure next year or in years to come [AFLX] could form a first week of practice-match-style competition for the teams. 

"It's certainly an option."