"Victoria Park, the Collingwood Football Club's spiritual home for more than a century, may soon be swarming with football jumpers once worn by one of the Magpies' staunchest enemies.

VAFA club Fitzroy Reds hopes to use Victoria Park as a second base because surface and drainage problems continue to plague its home ground, the Brunswick Street Oval. The Reds are becoming as nomadic as their spiritual fathers, the Fitzroy Lions, and were forced to play games at Arden Street and the Punt Road Oval last year because of the problems at Brunswick Street.

Reds president Peter Hille said player numbers were bulging at the club, which has five teams in competition this season, meaning it desperately needs two home grounds. "We've got five teams now so we need it (Victoria Park) and we're hoping to have it on a long-term basis. Let's face it, we're not going to shrink in size," Hille said.

City of Yarra chief executive Lydia Wilson confirmed the council was talking to Collingwood Football Club about its "lease and occupation of Victoria Park" but would not reveal any details. "I am not in a position to discuss the content of those discussions at this time as they are confidential," Wilson said. "The City of Yarra will make a general statement to the media about the future of Victoria Park when the discussions between the parties are finalised."

Wilson said there were many sporting clubs that wanted to use Victoria Park. However, those requests could not be worked through until talks with Collingwood were completed. The Sunday Age believes Collingwood's lease at Victoria Park formally ends on April 1 and Yarra Council is considering offers from the Reds and St Kevin's College, the latter hoping to use the ground as a campus.

The council would also like to use the ground for community space but will keep the stands, which are heritage-listed."