North Melbourne president James Brayshaw says the AFL club could play up to seven games per year in Tasmania from 2012 onwards.

But Brayshaw said the Kangaroos would only consider hosting that many games in the Apple Isle if they were also guaranteed at least 11 matches annually in Melbourne.

"We're very open to playing up to seven games down there but it needs to be in conjunction with a longstanding partnership where both sides stand to mutually benefit," Brayshaw told ABC Radio on Thursday.

The Kangaroos president - who was instrumental in staving off an AFL push to move the club to the Gold Coast three years ago - said in no way could the Tasmanian proposal be considered a relocation.

"While we are extremely positive about the direction our club is heading, I have consistently said we need to look at these types of opportunities to grow," he told the club's website.

"We think there are great opportunities to work with Tasmania and we will keep our members informed as we continue to work through this.

"We have repeatedly stated that our home will always be at Arden Street and we will always be the North Melbourne Football Club. That will never change."

Hawthorn currently earns $3 million annually in a lucrative sponsorship deal with the Tasmanian government to play four matches per year at Aurora Stadium in Launceston.

The Hawthorn deal expires in September 2011 and they are believed to be negotiating with the state government about a new five-year agreement.

But the Hawks would be unlikely to accept any increase in the number of games they play in Tasmania.

If North Melbourne do agree to play seven matches annually in Tasmania from 2012 when the competition expands to 18 teams with the inclusion of Greater Western Sydney, those games would be split between Aurora Stadium and Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

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