Will the rules change next year...

[LostDoggy]

With the current situations whereby contracted players have been requesting trades, such as Boyd, Griffen, Beams, Ryder et al. Is the AFL going to look to change the rules next season?

i don't have a gripe with a player requesting a trade if it is for the right reason, however it is becoming more and more obvious that some contracted players are simply requesting trades for financial gain.

I think a rule that stated the player requesting the trade could only move based on an identical or less package to the contractual terms they had at their incumbent club until that contract is due to expire would go a long way to mitigating this new phenomenon, as things could get very silly very quickly.

Of course this rule change would only take effect after we get Tom Boyd in the tri-colours!!!

[hujsh]

If I remember right, part of the impetus behind free agency was to help get trades though eg Ryan O'Keefe not being able to move. The AFL now changing the rules to prevent players moving would be consistent with their history of contradictory rule changes.

[LostDoggy]

If I remember right, part of the impetus behind free agency was to help get trades though eg Ryan O'Keefe not being able to move. The AFL now changing the rules to prevent players moving would be consistent with their history of contradictory rule changes.

Massive difference between a contracted player and a free agent!

[1eyedog]

It has to otherwise what is the point of a contract? You might as well just say to a player we'll pay you this much until x and when you get an offer of x just let us know and we'll work out whether we can / will match / exceed it.

[hujsh]

Massive difference between a contracted player and a free agent!

But knowing a player can leave via free agency the next year helps facilitate these trades. It incentivizes the clubs to work a better deal out now rather than take their chances later.

[LostDoggy]

But knowing a player can leave via free agency the next year helps facilitate these trades. It incentivizes the clubs to work a better deal out now rather than take their chances later.

Correct, but if you have contracted a player at agreed terms, they are the terms, or else as 1eyedog states what is the point of a contract? FA has increased the ability for player movement, but what is happening now is completely different. Tom Boyd would not be a free agent for another 7 years!

[Scorlibo]

The rules won't change and they don't need to. It will only take one instance of a club holding the player to their contract to nip this kind of behaviour in the bud. It could well happen with either of Boyd or Griffen - but more probably both.

[LostDoggy]

Need to be careful, can see it ending up in court as a restraint of trade if the AFL start to tamper with it too much.

[ledge]

First rule change should be no free agents are allowed to go to the top 4 clubs of that year.

[Webby]

First rule change should be no free agents are allowed to go to the top 4 clubs of that year.

Correct. Works in the NFL. On that point, why TF the AFL didn't just copy the NFL's checks and balances is beyond me. 50 years of trial and error counts for something....!