AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan enters pay talks for the first time

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan fronting pay talks with the player union for the first time this week is a strong indicator an agreement will be reached without the need for industrial action.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has fronted pay talks with the powerful player union for the first time.

McLachlan headed a league delegation that met with AFL Players’ Association boss Paul Marsh and his negotiating team in Albert Park on Monday.

The involvement of McLachlan is seen as another strong indicator a new collective bargaining agreement will be struck between head office and the game’s 817 players without the need for industrial action.

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Until this week, the AFL had deployed a negotiating team headed by senior executives Andrew Dillon, Ray Gunston and Mark Evans.

McLachlan was criticised by players for snubbing an invitation to attend an AFLPA conference in Torquay late last year.

Central to the discussions on Monday is believed to be a “mechanism” that will guarantee the players a cut of any unbudgeted industry revenues across the next six seasons.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has got involved in pay talks for the first time. Picture: AAP

As revealed by the Herald Sun two weeks ago, both parties would seek to claim victory in the long-running salaries standoff under the compromise agreement.

Players could argue they secured a set percentage of some revenues, while the AFL could claim to have stood its ground in nominating a set amount it is prepared to pay the game’s 817 combatants.

The prospect of an unprecedented player strike is now considered remote but a number of key issues outside remuneration remain unresolved.

They include player development and welfare, injury payments, work-life balance and past-player support.

Hair testing under the illicit drug code is not part of pay negotiations.

Players across the 18 clubs took home more than $205 million last season — a team salary cap of $10.37 million plus marketing allowances of $1.022m.

Clubs are preparing for a rise of 10-20 per cent.

AFLPA boss Paul Marsh. Picture: Hamish Blair

Under the new “mechanism”, set salaries would increase beyond the salary cap if industry revenues rose above those forecast by the AFL.

The AFL had refused to meet with the player union for two months late last year but returned to the negotiating table after Christmas.

Asked about the progress of the talks earlier this month, McLachlan told the Herald Sun: “It’s the detail of the mechanism we’re talking about and we are working on that at the moment.

“Part of the issue is determining what of the game’s revenue should be available to the players and the consequences, if there was a fixed return to the players, if revenue fell.

“I’m confident we’ll get there because we’re committed to getting a deal done, a fair deal.”