We get trapped into thinking in a black and white way. Pragmatism is actually a thing and good negotiators and responsible managers can actually find middle ground and get a result that is good for everyone without the need for guns to the head brinksmanship.
The AFL plays in a very murky world when it comes to contracts. Concessions are made by both sides (clubs and players) to ensure there's an amount of cake having and eating, and while the balance shifts from time to time generally speaking everyone seems to be happy with it because usually it's only fans like us (or disgruntled ex-players who missed out on the massive pay days) who get really shitty about it.
Everyone in the industry wants the flexibility, and rarely bemoans it.
No club or player/ manager combination is ever going to play cards that are honest, meaning information asymmetry is an issue negotiating parties need to manage when inking a deal. I'd prefer either full disclosure prior to the deal being made but that's never going to happen in such a dynamic negotiation landscape like the AFL, so failing that parties need to come together and actually work through issues as they arise.