I think the AFL should put a date mid season for contract renewals, for eg by the end of round 11 a player must sign up if he intends to stay on. By then players, managers, clubs know how they're tracking for that year anyway and takes pressure off both player and club. If they don't re-sign then they're on the way out and clubs can then plan. I don't know, something like that I reckon may work. As it is, players are bending clubs over.