The AFL should be doing everything in their power to even the comp. Currently their is an abyss between the top and bottom of the ladder.

As a one country code, the AFL is nothing without an interesting, even competition. The AFLPA should also be behind this as they are representing not just current players but also the health of the competition for future players.

The AFL should be doing everything in their power to even the comp. Currently their is an abyss between the top and bottom of the ladder.

As a one country code, the AFL is nothing without an interesting, even competition. The AFLPA should also be behind this as they are representing not just current players but also the health of the competition for future players.

agree first sentence

good luck with second .....it's all self interest

actually it could work quite well against the top sides who have a lot more depth and potentially more frustrated, lower-paid, reasonable players

Sorry to take issue DC but how many frustrated depth players are there at the Dorks, the Swans or Freo? What we see is the depth players choosing to stay despite offers from lower teams. Fringe players out of contract can go wherever they want. The Dorks aren't going to hold onto a player who wants to go. The AFL/AFLPA have again conjured up a solution in search of a problem. The problem they first identified to justify FA was that fringe players were stuck at clubs so they introduced FA to help out those journeymen. Of course what has happened is the elite players have taken the chance to move to equal or better performed clubs at twice the price or years of contract. All this at the expense of the majority of journeymen players who are now being paid less or are on limited contracts. And of course the other losers are the lower clubs who are losing experienced players to the better clubs but at least there is some draft compo at present but that is always under scrutiny. There is a huge equalisation elephant in the room problem but all we hear is this sort of Shyte.

Sorry to take issue DC but how many frustrated depth players are there at the Dorks, the Swans or Freo? What we see is the depth players choosing to stay despite offers from lower teams. Fringe players out of contract can go wherever they want. The Dorks aren't going to hold onto a player who wants to go. The AFL/AFLPA have again conjured up a solution in search of a problem. The problem they first identified to justify FA was that fringe players were stuck at clubs so they introduced FA to help out those journeymen. Of course what has happened is the elite players have taken the chance to move to equal or better performed clubs at twice the price or years of contract. All this at the expense of the majority of journeymen players who are now being paid less or are on limited contracts. And of course the other losers are the lower clubs who are losing experienced players to the better clubs but at least there is some draft compo at present but that is always under scrutiny. There is a huge equalisation elephant in the room problem but all we hear is this sort of Shyte.

just as well i said could then, earl

guess i should have had my bullshyte monitor turned up when i saw it was an afl/aflpa idea

but i can't see why a top club would be interested in a bottom club depth player, christ even we aren't too keen on our "depth" players

The ALFPA is asking for earlier qualification, 6 years service, not connected to any club. Just years of service. And they want an end to compensation as this is slowing down trading or encouraging clubs like MFC to not counter bid for the likes of Frawley. This apparently will even up things they say. The evidence so far is the elite are moving from good sides to good sides or from lower sides to better sides. The ALFPA claims to represent some 800 players yet FA benefits in any year, potentially the best 20 or so players in the comp. When Buddy gets million a year, that comes off the salary of a rookie and some other strugglers at the club. There is a limit called the salary cap. The AFLPA as I see it is a disgrace at least on this issue.

I think I'll start up a union earl..... a supporters union.

we'll give it 2 seasons, then when sufficient numbers, I'll call for free agency for all supporters who have given via memberships, paid service for over '5 years', that sounds like a plan, doesn't it?

when all the good players have chosen the one club, I'll take all the supporters over to that team, we can't lose... we'll get a vote at the new rules forums, & the best seats at our games, because there will be plenty.

memberships will be affordable, as we will be the richest club 'going', about.

e'd, bet you wished you thought of this one, 'ey.

So the poor clubs will be able to draft the best talent as they continue to flatline at the bottom of the ladder, develop the players, then watch them walk to last year's premiers for nothing?

Oh, but they currently leave via trade anyway, regardless of whether they're still in contract?

Great stuff AFLPA. Keep protecting the 1% at the expense of the 99%.

Ive got no control over it,so let it happen and get the right people to manage our club and get the right result.

BUMP.

I despair!

AFL may lower FA elibility to 5 or 6 years to 'fringe players' (ie not 'stars'). http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-flags-prospect-of-a-lessrestrictive-free-agency-system-20150520-gh5t69.html

- Definition of fringe: # of games, salary position in the team

- Receiving club gets the player for free.

- Giving club gets zip in return! Effectively, development of that player is worth nothing!

Players currently can virtually go to club of choice be they in or out of contract but at least a trade needs to occur, so I'm not a fan of the proposal.

Feeling pessimistic atmo but the proposal just looks like a recipe for more pillage of lower clubs IMO.

This could lead to no one drafting ruckmen. Why would you bother, many take 5 or 6 years to get to 30 games,

This could lead to no one drafting ruckmen. Why would you bother, many take 5 or 6 years to get to 30 games,

It's kind of happening anyway 'ManDee'...ruckman are not being picked in the top end of the draft now and sliding further and further down.

This could lead to no one drafting ruckmen. Why would you bother, many take 5 or 6 years to get to 30 games,

If you think you have a good ruckman who has been on the list for 5 years but only coming good after 30 games, pay him more than his worth for his second contract. His contract amount will take him out of this new FA equation. Or maybe they tweak the proposal to not include ruckman.