PORT Adelaide will seek to play the first game for premiership points in China next year as part of a new multi-million dollar sponsorship deal with a Chinese property developer.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the groundbreaking move at a press conference in Shanghai on Thursday, when a memorandum of understanding was signed.
The agreement will see all parties endeavour to play a match in China as early as next year, potentially in the bye weekend.
The Power, who have already broadcast a match into China this season through the country's China Central TV network, say they will not sacrifice a home game at Adelaide Oval if the overseas match goes ahead.
The AFL is yet to announce who Port Adelaide would play but said it had an agreement with a second club. The Power have stressed they would maintain all the benefits of a home team for the proposed match.
The Prime Minister was joined by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan in Shanghai on Thursday, as well as Power CEO Keith Thomas.
The announcement followed a three-year sponsorship deal being signed with Chinese developer Shanghai Cred.
"I’m incredibly proud to have a signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the Port Adelaide Football Club that ensures we will do everything possible to play a game for premiership points here in Shanghai as early as next season," CEO Thomas said.
"We see today’s (Thursday's) announcement as another important step in bringing the people of Australia and China together through a mutual passion for sport."
McLachlan said the AFL would support the Power's desire to host the overseas game.
"Port Adelaide, through the efforts of chairman David Koch and chief executive Keith Thomas, has done much outstanding work in the last four years to rebuild its position and profile within our competition," he said.
"The AFL will work with Port Adelaide to explore all available options to take a first game for premiership points into China."
A match in China would be the first held in the northern hemisphere for premiership points.
St Kilda's annual Anzac Day match in New Zealand was abandoned this season after three years.
The AFL has had an official presence on Chinese social media platforms Weibo and WeChat for more than a year to engage the Chinese-speaking community in both Australia and China.
China fact file
Population: 1,367,485,388 (as of July 2015)
Most popular sports: football (Chinese Super League), basketball (Chinese Basketball Association), badminton
Major sporting teams: Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao, Beijing Guoan, Shanghai Shenhua, Shandong Luneng, Guandong Southern Tigers, Beijing Ducks, Shanghai Sharks, Bayi Rockets
Major stadiums: Shanghai Stadium, Workers Stadium (Beijing), Jinan Olympic Sports Luneng Stadium, Nanjing Olympic Sports Centre, Shenyang Olympic Sports Centre Stadium
Weather: If the game is to be played in June during the bye rounds, as reported, the average temperature in Shanghai is around 26 degrees. The rainy season also begins in June with an average of 212mm of rainfall for the month.
Smog: In December last year, the people of Shanghai were warned to stay indoors after the city's air was classified as "severely polluted", the worst level of a six-grade scale. Air quality improves significantly in Shanghai over the summer months, but is at its best in August. - Nat Edwards
