Our Position - Free Agency

Free Agency

We have reached final agreement on the details of how Free Agency will operate following its introduction at the end of the 2012 season.

In a nutshell, Free Agency will provide a player who has played 8 years or more at the one club to negotiate directly with the club of his choice.

The introduction of Free Agency tips the negotiating power scales back to a more even keel between the rights of Players and Clubs.

By striking a balance between respecting the culture and traditions of our game, whilst acknowledging the rights of players for increased self determination, Free Agency will be good for Players, Clubs and the game.

The main areas that we have now finalising with the AFL are that:

• The top 25% (9-10) of players takes in to consideration “guaranteed” money only
• The transition arrangements for Veterans, allowing clubs to operate under the current rules for the life of the contracts negotiated before 1 November 2011
• Offers must be “matched” for restricted free agents in exact terms, but can be spread evenly by clubs for salary cap purposes
• The timetable for the transfer period and draft
• The indirect compensation for clubs that have a net loss being determined by the formula applied to the GWS list creation model

If you have any questions, please contact Ian Prendergast on 0412 878 455.

Facts about free agency

• Players delisted by a club will be unrestricted free agents.

• Players who are NOT in the top 25% of salaries at their club (ie. not in club top 9-10 paid players) will be eligible for unrestricted free agency if they have served at least 8 years with the club.

• Players who ARE in the top 25% of salaries at their club (i.e. in club top 9-10 paid players) will be eligible for restricted free agency on the first occasion they are out of contract having served at least 8 years with the club.

• A top 25% player will then be eligible for unrestricted free agency when next out of contract provided that a player can never be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least 10 years service at one club.

• Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services. That is, if the current club can “match” the offer from a suitor club in exact terms, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer only includes football payments and ASA amounts.