The image of agents, payments for emergency players and what's going to be needed in establishing the women's football league are set to be discussion points when AFL player agents gather for a two-day conference in Melbourne this week.
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How agents approach prospective teenage talent and reducing the number of years required to enter free agency – with some support for that to be slashed to five years – will also be discussed formally and informally when agents from across Australia gather at the Grand Hyatt on Thursday.
There are mixed views from player agents as to whether free-agent requirements should be cut from the current eight years to six, and even to five. While this could free up greater movement, the concern, particularly over five years, is that a club which, for instance, had spent time and money on developing a raw ruckman, could lose him as soon as he starts to mature.
The issue of match payments for emergencies is also on the minds of several agents. Emergency players do not receive match payments but there is a push for them to be compensated, especially when they are either rested or taken as the travelling emergency on an interstate trip.
The perception of agents is listed as an agenda item on Friday.
The recent legal stoush between agents Liam Pickering and Jason Sourasis has made headlines, and has prompted an investigation by the AFL Players' Association, which heads up the agents accreditation board.
While some agents have brushed the messy court case and fall-out between the former business partners aside, others agree it was a break-up which could have been handled better.
Pickering and Sourasis have yet to settle their expensive clash after both had a victory of sorts in the Supreme Court. The pair has until late July to reach a settlement.
Agents will discuss the possibility of introducing player movement mid-season as part of ongoing collective bargaining negotiations with the AFLPA. This was also set to be discussed when AFL chief Gillon McLachlan met with nine AFL coaches at an informal gathering at his home on Tuesday night.
One agent said on Tuesday there was merit in reintroducing a mid-season draft, which was scrapped in 1993. Players could be awarded short-term contracts, with the agent pointing to out-of-favour Western Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson and former Melbourne captain Jack Grimes, also languishing in the VFL, as being prospective trade targets should that option be available.
"Travis Cloke could have been another if the Magpies were prepared to deal him," the agent said.
But several issues would need to be resolved, for instance the impact a trade would have on a club's salary cap.
Other matters on the agenda include illicit drugs counselling and education, Indigenous best practice guidelines, gambling harm prevention and the role of agents in the new women's football league, set to begin next year.
The AFLPA has committed to representing women's players and several leading female players have been signed by leading agents.
Speakers at the conference include AFLPA chief Paul Marsh, AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan, AFL salary cap enforcer Ken Wood and AFL Coaches' Association boss, Mark Brayshaw.
There has also been agitation at agents not following protocol when attempting to sign young talent – an issue which has simmered for years.
Present rules stipulate agents must initially approach players via a letter of introduction, before notifying the player's club of their intention to approach the player. For TAC Cup players, requests generally go through regional talent managers.
There are also rules prohibiting managers from talking to players during state league finals series, immediately after games or training sessions, during the national under-16 and under-18 championships, and in secondary or university examination periods. The draft combine and state screening sessions are other no-go zones for agents.
While the rules are clearly spelt out in the accredited agents' code of conduct, it's believed there are concerns about instances of agents failing to adhere to the requirements.
Part of the rationale behind the review is a concern about the impact that approaches from managers have on junior players, whose expectations of being drafted may be inflated despite their sometimes limited prospects. Agents are required to provide support and counselling for players who are not drafted.
The AFL is also cautious of junior players being offered inducements to sign with agents, and juniors being burdened with too many concerns during important years of their education.
