Cr Rob Wilson unsuccessfully tried to push the sanctioning of any deal back until the first meeting after the November council elections.

"I am trying to save some councillors' electoral souls tonight because I believe this will be an issue that will pursue and haunt and hound this council until the council elections,'' he said.

Those who went against community feeling and supported a deal in which the AFL club would reportedly be handed a parcel of land would "go out in a blaze of glory in November''.

Acrimonious exchanges between some councillors on the issue resulted in council moving into a private session to establish whether any council documents did in fact refer to a land deal.

The Journal understands CEO Mike Tyler produced a confidential document, shown some time ago to councillors, which refers to an "asset'', not specifically defined as land, worth $500,000. This prompted a motion by Crs Wilson and Bradford calling on council to note: "The document seen by council dated May 6, 2008, authorised by the CEO identifies an asset of the value to $500,000 as part of a negotiation with the MFC that states 'effectively the proposal is for funding as follows (including through disposal of an asset worth $500,000)'.''

The motion failed to pass. Four of the 11 councillors have publicly ruled out supporting any deal in which the council financially makes way for the MFC to come to Casey.