AFL considering free agency rule change that would help Victorian clubs lure Rory Sloane

AFTER 10 years at Adelaide, Crow Rory Sloane’s path to a Victorian club could be smoothed as the AFL considers a rule change to its free agency status for veterans.

Rory Sloane is in demand. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

RORY Sloane’s path to a Victorian club could be smoothed by a rule change being considered by the AFL.

The Herald Sun understands the AFL is considering whether to award all 10-year free agents unrestricted status.

That decision would give Victorian clubs significant leverage as they offer Sloane massive offers in the knowledge Adelaide could not match any deal.

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Under current rules, restricted free agency kicks in at eight seasons, with unrestricted free agency awarded at 10 seasons.

But a player has to come out of contract at eight years or more as a restricted free agent, then sign another contract that expires, before they reach ­unrestricted status.

Both Sloane and Western Bulldogs forward Jordan Roughead this year come out of contract as 10-year free agents and, under current rulings, are restricted free agents.

Both signed three-year deals after their seventh season, deals that expire at the end of this season, their 10th.

Victorian clubs are expected to make big offers in a bid to lure Sloane out of the Crows. Picture: AAP

Until the recent negotiations it had seemed cut and dried that Sloane was a restricted free agent.

The AFL on Tuesday said salary cap cop Ken Wood would release his list of restricted and unrestricted free agents before Round 1.

Until then clubs will be in the dark about their true chances of securing Sloane, with a ruling on the nature of 10-year free agency likely to impact dozens of players in future years.

For Adelaide the ruling has far-reaching consequences.

Adelaide has already shown it is prepared to match restricted free agency deals, threatening Geelong before eventually receiving picks No.9 and No.28 and Dean Gore for Patrick Dangerfield.

If Sloane returns to Melbourne as an unrestricted free agent the Crows would have no capacity to match a deal and would receive a late-teens compensation pick if they finish top four again.

Unrestricted free agency would also allow Sloane to consider Melbourne offers liberated by the knowledge those clubs won’t be forced into a messy trade.

Western Bulldog Jordan Roughead is a 10-year free agent this year. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide is confident it can sign a deal with Sloane before Round 1, with reports in recent days he could sign a deal of up to four years on as much as $1 million a year.

But regardless of Sloane and Roughead’s position, the AFLPA is keen to make all 10-year free agents unrestricted in coming seasons to enhance their options at contract time.

The AFL and player union signed off on last year’s collective bargaining agreement but agreed to negotiate on the details of future free agency.

The league has committed to accepting one of several free agency proposals thrown up by the AFLPA: a player might retain free agency rights for the rest of his career once he hits eight years; or all delisted players might retain free agency status for the rest of their career.

It would mean a player like Geelong’s Sam Menegola, delisted by Fremantle after a start to his career at Hawthorn, could have had his pick of clubs when he was in demand at the end of 2015.

AFL executive Andrew Dillon has been canvassing clubs on free agency provisions over the summer and could still make a ruling that assists Adelaide.

He could introduce unrestricted free agency for all 10-year players but phase that ruling in for coming years, not 2018.

Adelaide is comfortable that Sloane’s free agency status is not a game-changer — he will either want to stay or move home to Victoria for family reasons.

But as the only club to in essence match a restricted free agency bid, it leaves them less options if he decides to depart.

Cats chief executive Brian Cook said last year the market for Sloane was clearly around $1 million a year.

“He will be around the million mark. He’s 27, yeah, a million for three years,’’ Cook said.

“That’s his value in the market. There might be one or two clubs who will give him more because they’re desperate, but additionally have some cap left.’’