St Kilda could go back to where it all began, with the AFL club potentially becoming involved in a redevelopment of the dilapidated Junction Oval.

It has emerged that the State Government and the AFL met last week to discuss the facility in suburban St Kilda, which needs a multi-million redevelopment.

The league wants Junction Oval upgraded so it can be used again as a first-class cricket venue and free up the MCG for the start of the AFL season.

This season, the MCG was unavailable for the split opening round because of the Sheffield Shield.

The Carlton-Richmond blockbuster, which has opened the season in past years, was moved to round two as a result.

The new proposal involves the Saints becoming co-tenants at Junction Oval with Cricket Victoria.

St Kilda would relocate their training and administration facilities to the ground.

It would be a massive project, with the site converted to two ovals – one as a training ground for the Saints and the other for cricket.

The Saints said in a statement they have not been involved in the discussions between the government and the AFL.

“(But) St Kilda has recently been consulted by the AFL in relation to the prospect of incorporating a Saints presence into the potential redevelopment as part of their broader objectives linking elite and community football facilities in Victoria,” the club said.

“(We) would consider any new opportunities to further combine our rich bayside heritage with future community engagement.

“It is highly speculative to imply any situation beyond that which has been articulated above.”

The Saints played at Junction Oval until 1964, when they moved to Moorabbin.

After a dispute with the local council, the Saints moved to their current training and administration base at Seaford, near Frankston.

They still have a presence at the Moorabbin ground and occasionally train there.

While the Saints have a strategic plan to further entrench themselves in the Bayside suburbs, their Seaford headquarters is already too small for them.

There have also been murmurings among some players and staff that the Seaford facility is too isolated.

Melbourne’s football department was based for several years at Junction Oval until the club relocated to the AAMI Park facility.