Brisbane are pushing to be included in an expanded VFL competition from 2021 as a cloud hangs over the future of the NEAFL.
Gold Coast, GWS Giants and the Sydney Swans have played alongside Brisbane in the combined New South Wales and Queensland second-tier competition since 2011 but northern clubs are searching for alternatives with the competition not expected to return next year.
Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann confirmed the club was “pushing” to be included in the VFL or some form of AFL reserves league in 2021.
"At the moment, the NEAFL doesn't look like it's going to come back," Swann told Fox Footy Live on Saturday.
"All the northern state clubs need somewhere to play so we've been pushing to perhaps join with the VFL, or an AFL reserves, or an eastern-seaboard AFL reserves.
"If 10 teams in Melbourne run a comp then us four would probably join it, or that's what we've been pushing to do."
Swann said the Lions would be prepared to be flexible to save costs of running any form of reserves matches into the future.
"There is a comp, but it's more about getting games into the players who aren't playing," Swann said.
"If we had to play the Suns four times to reduce costs, and GWS played Sydney four times, then no one has a real problem with that."