Darcy Moore interview: AFL’s drugs policy, life outside footy and leading a new era at the AFLPA

Darcy Moore is as happy appreciating street art as he would be watching footy. That way of thinking might be why he’s the right choice to lead a new era of footy. Moore sits down with JAY CLARK.

New AFLPA president Darcy Moore. Picture: Michael Klein

Darcy Moore can foresee changes on football’s horizon.

There is a new club on the way, exciting commercial opportunities for players, a push to grow AFLW and a new collective bargaining agreement and illicit drugs policy in the wings.

On the field, Moore has already achieved so much, captaining Collingwood to a premiership as one of the best key defenders in the league.

The deep-thinking defender loves the game, and his emotional hug with his dad and Collingwood hero Peter after the 2023 flag delivered one of the most touching moments of the Magpies’ wild ride to a premiership.

But the 29-year-old is equally happy pouring more time into studying international politics, appreciating street art and reading than he does watching Friday night footy.

This is the same man who gave out free cuts to teammates as Collingwood’s resident hairdresser during the COVID-19 hubs.

Darcy Moore is leading a new era. Picture: Michael Klein

But it’s that curious mind, intelligence, life balance and empathetic approach to his peers which has primed Moore to become the AFL Players’ Association new president after eight years as a delegate and board member.

Moore was adamant his first step in the gig was listening to his peers and canvassing their views on the big and little football issues across the country.

But the two-time All-Australian has always been clear that there is more to life than taking marks on the weekend, and the rollercoaster of emotions a professional sporting career can deliver.

And as the new AFL and AFLW players’ figurehead, the brilliant backman will help shape some of the most important decision-making in the game over the next period alongside chief executive Paul Marsh.

Moore is excited about the challenges that are inevitably ahead, fully understanding that not much of it will be easy as the players attempt to strike an improved pay deal in a tricky financial and media landscape.

“What we do for two or three hours on the weekend is always what we dreamt of doing as a kid, and the joy of the game and competing at the highest level is still what I enjoy the most,” Moore said.

Moore takes the reins from Cats skipper Patrick Dangerfield. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“But then around that are all these different requirements (to run football).

“There’s the physical toll the game takes, the playing and the training, the attention and scrutiny, the performance and the pressure of AFL, and all these sorts of things in the game.

“Now in my new role at the AFLPA, we will be working through these intense and sometimes complex policy matters and so much more.

“And it is hard, and it is a lot, but it is also bloody fun and I love it.

“It has got under my skin in a way and it is something I feel really passionately about because it is such an exciting time to be an AFL player.

“But I just think having some different interests, being well-read and having an understanding of what good governance looks like – whether it is media, politics or whatever – will help me do a great job of it and understanding where football fits in Australian cultural life.

“Obviously, it’s right at the top.

“Our industry can be very insular, but we fit into a much bigger picture and helping to guide us through that is an exciting piece of work.”

Marsh said the PA was “lucky to have someone of Darcy’s calibre interested and so committed to what we are doing” as the players enter a new era.

“He is one of the most respected players in the competition and also one of the most intelligent,” Marsh said.

“He will do a great job and I think one of Darcy’s great strengths is that he is one of the most curious people I have ever met.

“He will make sure we stay on top of the issues we need to stay on top of.”

Moore will take over from Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield who, after seven years in the gig, said his successor would be “spectacular” for his ability to connect and lead conversation on the issues and opportunities which can take the game forward.

One of them is increased salaries for players.

Moore is not your stereotypical AFL player. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The creation of a new marketing fund in the most recent collective bargaining agreement gave the superstars more scope to pocket more cash for promoting the game.

But how the PA can deliver more reward for players amid soaring broadcast ratings, membership and attendance will be interesting considering some of the fears for flattened broadcast deals.

The recent radio rights deal did not include a big increase like the bumper $4.5 billion television broadcast agreement in 2022.

“Do we think players deserve more? Of course,” Moore said.

“I live it, the sacrifices that are made, the physical toll, the challenges associated with the job.

“Players work hard and we see very clearly the commercial benefit high profile players bring to the industry.

“With the growth of social media and players developing brands themselves and being able to access segments of different markets and different football fans.

“That presents a real opportunity that we didn’t have even five or six years ago, and I think that is only going to grow even more in the future.

“And one thing that we have learned in the past few years and the tumultuous period of Covid and the fracturing media landscape across the board is that one thing that brings massive audiences together is sport and in Australia it is football and the AFL

“We put on a product that people want to watch, people want to talk about and people want to hear about.

“There is enormous appetite for it and we are a truly national game, so that is a massive opportunity for players and at the end of the day we are the ones that are running around out there and putting a show on.”

The premiership skipper says the players deserve more reward. Picture: Ian Currie

Already, AFL players take home 31.7 per cent of total league revenue with a record 25 players taking home more than $1 million a season in 2024. Another 19 made at least $900,000.

The salary cap jumped up from $15.8 million last year to $17.8 million this season, and will increase again further to $18.3 million next year.

And Marsh said the player union would drive another strong negotiation with the AFL to ensure male and female players are being fairly rewarded beyond 2027 when the CBA expires.

“We pushed as hard as we could have pushed in the current deal and we will keep doing so. We don’t plan to go backwards,” Marsh said.

Talks on a new illicit drugs policy have slowed following revelations in the Herald Sun the AFL provided a list of 51 names for target testing on performance enhancing drugs to Sports Integrity Australia.

The developments threaten to undermine the relationship between the players and the league amid beliefs the players’ confidentiality has been breached.

It comes as the league attempts to harden the illicit drugs policy to come down with tougher penalties on any players blatantly abusing the system.

Moore said the players were open to “more rigour” but was adamant “minimising harm” had to be the key pillar of the policy.

“The basis and the purpose of the policy is the most important thing and having agreement on that and being a health care and wellbeing model,” he said.

“Improving a bit of rigour around the way the policy is implemented has been flagged and this is definitely something we can support.“

But it remains a contentious subject, and in particular, which people within a football club should know about players’ drug use.

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley recently said the current illicit drugs policy “enables drug use rather than dealing with it”.

Buckley said the clubs were best-placed to deal with players’ drug use and support their wellbeing, and that more senior figures within a club should be aware of positive tests and repeat offences.

But Marsh said the information should remain private between players, the club doctor and mental health professionals.

Spreading that information further without the players’ consent could impact list decisions on their careers, Marsh said.

“I don’t think we should have to compromise on it (policy) and one of the things that Nathan said, and I respect everyone’s opinions, but he did talk about ‘you are either an AFL player or you are taking drugs’,” Marsh said.

“That is the greatest barrier to an AFL player ever sharing this information, because you are basically being forced into a choice.

“Sometimes there can be complex issues (involved), and we know players are genuinely struggling with addiction or other (problems) maybe not quite at that level.

“But to be put in a position where you can potentially lose your job (is not right).

“This thing has always been about trying to identify, help and support players and trying to get a player through that.

“We also see on the flip side of this, sometimes we do see players who are actually sharing their own struggles with their clubs.

“This is actually the best outcome, when the player feels there is enough trust there to sit down with their coach, footy manager and CEO and talk through the issues they are having.

“So, we are not anti the clubs knowing. Part of that is the players just being prepared to go and talk to them.”

Moore didn’t agree with Dangerfield’s take that the game should be shorter. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Dangerfield was strong in his belief the length of games should be reduced, but Moore isn’t so certain.

“Considering how long the game is, I think it is important as a commercial product to assess,” he said.

“Football lasting for over three hours in a world where peoples’ attention spans are getting shorter and shorter is something we need to keep asking of ourselves in the future.

“But it is not something I am strong on either way.”

Moore is confident he will be able to balance his extra duties with his responsibility as Collingwood captain as the Magpies attempt to bounce back into the eight.

Likely, the spotlight won’t be far away, something he knows well.

“I’m sure I will work it out on the fly,” he said.

“Being the captain of Collingwood, means that I’m not really in the business of running away and hiding from cameras.

“So, if you need me, I think you will be able to find me.”

AFLPA HOLDS FIRM ON DRUGS POLICY CONCERNS AS TENSIONS RISE

The AFL Players’ Association has doubled down on serious concerns it holds over the AFL’s use of players’ illicit drugs hair-testing data, saying it threatens to slow down progress on a new drugs policy.

Tensions have risen since the AFL used hair-testing data to determine a list of 51 players which it shared with Sports Integrity Australia for target-testing.

The AFLPA has sought more answers from the league over the sourcing of information amid genuine fears the league breached players’ confidentiality.

And it could have major implications on a new illicit drugs policy with new Players’ Association president Darcy Moore declaring “it definitely makes the process of going back and forth with the AFL about the IDP a bit slower.”

“Speaking on behalf of the players, it was certainly a concerning development and not something we were across,” Moore told the Herald Sun in an exclusive interview.

“We are still in the process of getting to the bottom of what has exactly happened, and what the details are.

“But it certainly wasn’t something that made us feel comfortable.”

The AFL has attempted to draw a distinction, saying while it didn’t share the actual results of the hair testing, the intelligence may have helped them form the list of names.

But the move could undermine the trust between the players and the league as the AFL strives to introduce tougher penalties for illicit drugs strikes.

The AFL has been clear it wants a “strengthened policy” which was “fit for purpose” following a declaration from Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley the league was “mollycoddling” and too soft on players who abused the system.

Moore and AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh. Picture: Michael Klein

Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said the union needed clarity on the target-testing matter as a priority.

“It has raised questions. I don’t want to jump to trust just yet, because I think we still need to get some answers,” he said.

“It certainly appears as if the AFL has given SIA a list of players’ names for target testing that was formulated from several different sources, but part of that was hair testing through the illicit drugs policy.

“That is what it appears to be, so we are concerned about it, yeah.

“The AFL knows we are concerned about it and we are trying to get to the bottom of it and exactly what has happened.

“The AFL has been answering a series of questions and we have got a few more. We are working through that.”

AFL players are governed by two separate drugs policies, the illicit drugs policy which is a voluntary commitment and the AFL anti-doping code which is overseen by the World Anti-Doping Agency and SIA.

Originally published as Darcy Moore interview: AFL’s drugs policy, life outside footy and leading a new era at the AFLPA