Legal bid against fed govt possible: Vic

Victoria hasn't ruled out taking the federal government to Australia's highest court over its proposed pokie reforms.

Deputy Premier Peter Ryan said it was an option and the federal government was entering into an area it shouldn't because it was desperate to cling to power.

"The prime minister has got herself into a terrible bind," he told reporters in Melbourne on Monday.

"If (independent) Andrew Wilkie were not standing his ground over the issue that enabled Labor to be the federal government, we would not be having this discussion."

When asked whether the state government would still consider taking action in the High Court, Mr Ryan replied: "We would keep all options alive in terms of what we might ultimately do."

He said it was an issue for state governments and the Victorian coalition stood by its pre-election policy of voluntary pre-commitment.

Under the federal government plan, poker machines - which reap billions of dollars for sporting clubs every year - will be reprogrammed to cap losses at $120 an hour rather than $1200 an hour but lower intensity machines will not require any form of pre-commitment.

The federal government is resisting a grand final week campaign by the AFL and NRL to stop the changes.

Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive officer Sam Biondo urged the AFL to show greater leadership and corporate social responsibility when it came to the promotion of problem gambling.

He said the federal government's proposed reforms to the gambling sector put people's health first.

"The AFL needs to consider other ways of fundraising and getting revenue, not from preying on the vulnerabilities of their fans," Mr Biondo said in a statement.

He said the state government's $30 million cash injection towards the upgrade of the MCG should be contingent on the AFL promoting better health outcomes.

The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne also called on the AFL to show some moral leadership.

"The AFL should stay on the high moral ground and just enjoy the grand final," Bishop Philip Huggins, who is chair of the Melbourne Anglican Social Responsibilities Committee, said in a statement.

"The AFL has shown moral leadership over major issues like racism and domestic violence and also over other issues of addiction like drugs and alcohol.

"Addiction to poker machines destroys lives."