Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda will play home games on the Gold Coast over the next two seasons as part of the AFL's expansion preparations.

The league has announced the three Melbourne teams will host one match per season at Carrara, ahead of the scheduled debut of the AFL's new Gold Coast side in 2011.

The six matches replace the games that North Melbourne were scheduled to host on the Gold Coast.

That deal fell through late last year, after the Kangaroos rejected the league's relocation package.

The AFL is determined to have big matches at Carrara over the next two seasons as they try to build interest towards the debut of the GC17 side.

"We know that the best advertisement for AFL is to see a game live," said AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan.

"The atmosphere created by thousands of passionate fans combined with the fast-paced action and skill of AFL provides great entertainment.

"We're thrilled to have three of our traditional AFL clubs in Carlton, Richmond and St Kilda joining with us to build the game in south-east Queensland, by bringing great teams and local heroes to the Gold Coast next year."

The AFL say the Blues, Tigers and Saints boast strong supporter bases on the Gold Coast and have enjoyed sell-out crowds over the last three seasons when they have played at the Gabba and Carrara.

Saints captain Nick Riewoldt, team-mate Sam Gilbert and Richmond's Andrew Raines and Luke McGuane were all recruited from Gold Coast clubs.

Victorian-based members of the three clubs will continue to have access to 11 games in Melbourne during the next two seasons.

They will have free entry to one designated away game each year to compensate for a home game being played on the Gold Coast.

The league will release the 2009 draw at the end of this month.

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