AFLPA survey results: Find out what the players think about the game’s biggest issues

How often are players trolled on social media? Does the season need to be shorter? Should player wages be made public? Find out what the players really think about the big issues in the AFLPA survey.

The AFL players have had their say on the future of the game. Picture: AAP Images

More than half of all players want the AFL to overhaul its fixture and reduce game times amid increasing demands and short turnarounds between matches.

Some 52 per cent of those polled in the AFL Players’ Association and Herald Sun annual survey are in favour of changing the current fixture model of 23 home-and-away rounds plus finals.

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A 17-round season plus finals is the preferred option for 24 per cent of players, while 15 per cent of players support the introduction of a wildcard finals round.

One in 10 players are in favour of a 17-5 fixture model, but only three per cent support increasing the number of finals teams to 10.

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While the current broadcast deal makes it difficult to overhaul the fixture until 2023, AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said the players were keen to explore different options going forward.

“It’s important we keep looking for ways to make the game more appealing to fans,” Marsh said.

“We’re committed to growing the game and if there’s an alternate model that means teams stay relevant for longer in the season then we should look at it.”

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Shorter game times are also on the agenda, with 59 per cent of players believing the game would benefit by shortening quarters.

Geelong midfielder and AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield has lead that charge, believing a reduction in quarter times could bring a range of benefits including fixture flexibility.

“The demands on players continue to grow, but at the same time there’s a thirst for greater flexibility in the fixture,” Dangerfield said.

Patrick Dangerfield is in favour of shorter seasons and reducing game time. Picture: AAP Images

“Reducing games to 100 minutes would help ease the burden of travel, short turnarounds and injury. Players will need some convincing but it could also improve the standard of play.”

More players than before are siding with fans in urging the AFL to leave the Grand Final in a day timeslot.

After having 75 per cent support each of the past two years, a day Grand Final is now preferred by 78 per cent of players.

“Most players are traditionalists at heart and they would just be happy to be playing in the grand final, regardless of the timeslot,” Marsh said.

“They also understand the need to keep evolving the product and if there’s a demand from key stakeholders to experiment with the timeslot then they’d embrace it.”

Nine in 10 players believe the AFL’s restrictions on the use of runners this year have not had a positive impact on the game, but more than two in three believe the new 6-6-6 rule has eased congestion.

PLAYERS WANT WAGES KEPT PRIVATE

Four in five AFL players believe their wages should not be made public in any form, believing it would only increase already overwhelming scrutiny on them.

The wages of players in most major United States sporting competitions are readily accessible to the public and there have long been calls for Australian sporting codes to go down the same path.

Port Adelaide premiership player Kane Cornes said earlier this year “player wages must become public knowledge”, believing it would eliminate wages being falsely reported and would give fans the “transparency” they deserve.

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However, 80 per cent of players said their wages should not be made public, while 15 per cent said they would be happy to have wages sorted into bands.

Only one in 20 players believed their wages should be made public for full transparency.

“There’s already enough scrutiny on players, in particular on social media, which has emerged as a big issue for players over the past 12 months,” North Melbourne defender Jamie Macmillan said.

“It may take the pressure off some players who are earning a lot less than people think, but the potential impact on those who are underperforming would be huge.

Kane Cornes has called for player wages to be made public. Picture: Sarah Reed

“The industry is doing a great job to elevate the importance of mental health, so making salaries public would fly in the face of this.”

The desire to keep wages a secret comes as 18 per cent of players reported experiencing trolling or abuse on social media either every day or most days.

AFLPA SURVEY 2019

Q1/ I experience trolling or abuse on social media:

Every day — 2 per cent

Most days — 16 per cent

Sometimes — 67 per cent

Never — 15 per cent

Q2/ Which of the following fixture models do you favour?

Wildcard finals round — 15 per cent

17-5 model — 10 per cent

10-team finals series — 3 per cent

17 rounds + finals — 24 per cent

Current model — 48 per cent

Q3/ Would the game benefit by shortening quarters?

Yes — 41 per cent

No — 59 per cent

Q4/ Do you support the SSP and mid-season draft (can select both)?

SSP — 48 per cent

Mid-season draft — 62 per cent

Q5/ In relation to draft eligibility age, which of the following do you prefer?

Remain the same — 71 per cent

18 years or older by end of the AFL season — 8 per cent

Must turn 19 years old in the draft year — 22 per cent

The majority of AFL players want to keep a day Grand Final. Picture: David Caird

Q6/ Should AFL players’ wages be made public?

Yes — 5 per cent

Yes, but sorted into bands — 15 per cent

No — 80 per cent

Q7/ Has the introduction of the 6-6-6 rule eased congestion?

Yes — 69 per cent

No — 31 per cent

Q8/ Has removing the need for players to kick to themselves when playing on from a kick out assisted increase the fluency of the game?

Yes — 48 per cent

No — 52 per cent

Q9/ Has restricting the use of runners had a positive impact on the game?

Yes — 10 per cent

No — 90 per cent

Q10/ My preferred timeslot for the AFL grand final is:

Day — 78 per cent

Twilight — 19 per cent

Night — 3 per cent

Q11/ Which of the following best describes your feelings towards AFLX:

I’m interested in playing in a pre-season All Stars format much like 2019 — 26 per cent

I’m interested in playing in a pre-season format for my club — 15 per cent

I’m only interested if my club is comfortable for me to play — 15 per cent

I’m not interested in playing AFLX — 44 per cent