The AFL is developing a modified form of the game that involves seven players a side on rectangular fields.

A Fairfax Media report detailed on Wednesday how the league, which has long been desperate to widen its appeal around Australia at grassroots level, created its `AFL X’ experiment.

If successfully rolled out it would give the sport greater reach and allow more games to be played in summer, when most community ovals are the domain of cricket clubs.

An AFL spokesperson confirmed the league is looking at developing the concept further.

The AFL recently conducted a trial between VFL players, which involved 10-minute quarters.

“It was an idea that came up, to develop a new product, that was able to work in different venues and look different, in a shorter and different format” AFL boss Gillon McLachlan told Fairfax.

McLachlan suggested the trial on the weekend had been a success but the concept was still at the embryonic stage.

The AFL’s general manager of game and market development Simon Lethlean noted AFL X would be easier to take overseas than the 18-a-side form played on ovals.

“It’s part of everyone’s plan to be a 12-month a year sport,” Lethlean told Fairfax.

“I hope it leads to more people playing our game.”

AFL 9s, a social form of touch football, has formed a key part of the code’s push into NSW and Queensland in recent years.