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By Kim Hagdorn
29 August 2012 01:03PM EST
A UNITED AFL player front is gearing up to steadfastly reject a proposed further reduction of interchange players.
Robert Murphy (pictured) has spoken out on proposed interchange changes
Players spread around the nation are meeting within their clubs and reporting to their player’s union executive all views on mounting expectation that the league will further modify interchange rules from next year.
AFL Player’s Association executive board member Robert Murphy revealed that players through the 18-team competition are totally united against any change.
The Western Bulldogs veteran expects responses from all clubs later this week, ahead of the final round of home-and-away fixtures over the weekend and some player heading into holiday early next month during the league’s finals series.
Murphy and fellow executive board member Brad Sewell said their union of players has their strongest ever bonds among the 900-plus AFL player group after last year’s highly successful stand-off with league powerbrokers for pay improvements.
Murphy said on his regular Tuesday night segment on Fox Footy’s popular AFL 360 segment that players are ready to repel the league’s push for any adjustment to interchange regulations.
“The adjustment to three and one, was a big one and as far as I can tell we are very united in that another change in such a short period would probably go against what the hopes are for the players,” Murphy said.
“I don’t want any change.
“We’ve met as an executive and as far as I can tell I haven’t spoken to a player or heard of a player, that is for a change to the current.”
Murphy disclosed that all clubs will hold player meetings this week.
Sewell said players are more united on important issues than ever before.
“In the past 12 to 18 months and the CBA negotiations there is a real ground swell amongst the players and we haven’t had that union in the past,” he said.
“Now off the back of that CBA there really is something there.”
Tension between AFL players and league management is mounting with raging speculation through the industry that from next season teams could be forced to operate with just two interchange players and two substitutes.
For the past two seasons AFL games have operated with three interchange and one substitute after moves from the league operations department to attempt to reduce a rapidly spiralling number of rotations in every match.
League advisors claimed at the time of reducing interchange numbers from four to three, with a substitute, that dragging back the number of rotations would assist in slowing down an alarming increase in speed and tempo of games as well as reduce injury prospects.
Another argument from league headquarters in defence of an interchange and rotations reduction was to keep the best players engaged in the action and on grounds longer.
Players, coaches as well as club-based sports science experts roundly reject those claims.
By Kim Hagdorn
29 August 2012 01:03PM EST
A UNITED AFL player front is gearing up to steadfastly reject a proposed further reduction of interchange players.
Robert Murphy (pictured) has spoken out on proposed interchange changesPlayers spread around the nation are meeting within their clubs and reporting to their player’s union executive all views on mounting expectation that the league will further modify interchange rules from next year.
AFL Player’s Association executive board member Robert Murphy revealed that players through the 18-team competition are totally united against any change.
The Western Bulldogs veteran expects responses from all clubs later this week, ahead of the final round of home-and-away fixtures over the weekend and some player heading into holiday early next month during the league’s finals series.
Murphy and fellow executive board member Brad Sewell said their union of players has their strongest ever bonds among the 900-plus AFL player group after last year’s highly successful stand-off with league powerbrokers for pay improvements.
Murphy said on his regular Tuesday night segment on Fox Footy’s popular AFL 360 segment that players are ready to repel the league’s push for any adjustment to interchange regulations.
“The adjustment to three and one, was a big one and as far as I can tell we are very united in that another change in such a short period would probably go against what the hopes are for the players,” Murphy said.
“I don’t want any change.
“We’ve met as an executive and as far as I can tell I haven’t spoken to a player or heard of a player, that is for a change to the current.”
Murphy disclosed that all clubs will hold player meetings this week.
Sewell said players are more united on important issues than ever before.
“In the past 12 to 18 months and the CBA negotiations there is a real ground swell amongst the players and we haven’t had that union in the past,” he said.
“Now off the back of that CBA there really is something there.”
Tension between AFL players and league management is mounting with raging speculation through the industry that from next season teams could be forced to operate with just two interchange players and two substitutes.
For the past two seasons AFL games have operated with three interchange and one substitute after moves from the league operations department to attempt to reduce a rapidly spiralling number of rotations in every match.
League advisors claimed at the time of reducing interchange numbers from four to three, with a substitute, that dragging back the number of rotations would assist in slowing down an alarming increase in speed and tempo of games as well as reduce injury prospects.
Another argument from league headquarters in defence of an interchange and rotations reduction was to keep the best players engaged in the action and on grounds longer.
Players, coaches as well as club-based sports science experts roundly reject those claims.
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