AFLPA boss says players should be able to announce free agency moves without condemnation

THE boss of the AFL Players’ Association says the game’s stars should have the freedom to reveal in-season they are moving clubs, without condemnation.

Lachie Henderson during his time at Carlton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

THE boss of the AFL Players’ Association says the game’s stars should have the freedom to reveal in-season they are moving clubs, without condemnation.

Chief executive Paul Marsh wants the AFL to adopt aspects of the NRL system and allow free agents such as Gold Coast’s Tom Lynch to speak more freely about swapping colours at season’s end.

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It would be a major change for the game, as players are currently strictly urged to keep quiet about their plans for next year to help minimise the backlash.

It is one of the most divisive issues in the game, with Adelaide coach Don Pyke and Sydney and Melbourne coach Paul Roos admitting they would have trouble selecting any player who had already decided to leave that year.

Former Blue Lachie Henderson was publicly condemned and cleaned out his locker after he told Carlton he would join Geelong in 2015.

Marsh said the game should treat its departing stars with more maturity, knowing they will play to their potential regardless of their decision to leave.

“I would love for us to get to the point where we are mature enough to accept that a player will make that decision and get on with it,” Marsh said.

“The thing I can say with 100 per cent confidence is that any player who made that decision and then announced it, would not try any less hard for the team that he is currently with.

Lachie Henderson before leaving Carlton. Picture: Norm Oorloff

Free agent Tom Lynch is expected to leave Gold Coast.

“They are professionals and there is no evidence of anyone trying any less hard.”

Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield last week revealed he decided to depart Adelaide before the start of his final year with the Crows in 2015, but still produced the best football of his career winning the best and fairest that year.

However, Essendon veteran Brendon Goddard said in his Sunday Herald Sun column any in-season public declaration from a teammate would be difficult to accept.

“I would struggle to look at them the same way I did prior to actually knowing,”

Goddard said.

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“Even if I had an inkling they may leave, to hear the words and think of the reality would really rattle me.

“We still have games to play together and games to win. It would be hard, weird and quite frankly, I feel it would be an uncomfortable position to be in for all parties.”

Marsh said teammates’ reaction was a potential drawback.

“The thing that concerns me is how the media would react to it, how the public would therefore react to it and even how the players’ own teammates would react to it,” Marsh said on SEN.

Essendon's Brendon Goddard. Picture: Michael Klein

“And we may see situations where, and I could understand it at a club which is not going to make the finals, were they would invest games into another player.

“So there’s not a lot of incentive for a player to announce this, as much as I think it would be a great step forward for the industry and for the player to do so.”

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