One of the most contentious issues in the modern game - free agency - is about to be relaxed in the new collective bargaining agreement with the players.
Under a raft of proposed changes, the AFL Players Association has demanded three significant reforms in a bid to allow footballers greater freedom of movement. Fairfax Media understands that the AFL has agreed to introduce at least one of the following free agency platforms as early as next season and definitely by 2019: Free agency for life - any player remains a free agent after eight years of service in the game regardless of how many years he has played at his current club;
- Portable free agency - any player can move to the club of his choice after eight years' service whether or not those years have all been at the one club;
- Four-year free agency - any player earning on or under the median AFL wage would be free to choose a new club after four years of service.
Players potentially falling into that four-year category at the end of 2017 include Zak Jones (Sydney), Blake Acres (St Kilda), Jarman Impey (Port Adelaide), Daniel McStay (Brisbane) and Tom Barrass (West Coast).