THE AFL’s illicit drug policy needs further discussion despite the significant changes announced this week, Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas says.

On Wednesday the League revealed a change from a three-strike policy to two, but the AFL will now not be allowed to publicly disclose how many tests are done, how many players fail these tests, and how many players are on one or two strikes.

The AFL Players’ Association was firm in having the public disclosure removed from the drug policy.

Thomas agreed it was a sensitive process, but hoped the policy would continue to evolve.

"We have to take these things slowly; eventually that (public detailing of drug tests) will occur," Thomas told the Adelaide Advertiser. 

"We are asking the playing group to give ground on a really important issue for the AFL and the clubs. We have to respect that sensitivity.

“To be more discrete with the information is not an unreasonable position to take right now.

"Over time, we will mature. If I am in the public, I want to know these things are being treated seriously."

While the testing results will now not be made available to the public, Thomas was confident the system would help players overcome drug issues.

He said public disclosure was not only a concern for the player, but also the club, as highlighted by the recent Jake Carlisle incident.

"The clubs are real victims of all the publicity," Thomas said.

"We’re the ones who are surprised all the time.

"And it is damaging. It has certainly grown as a concern quite quickly in the past three years — dramatically. For me, that is a positive thing because this is dangerous ground for the players to be in and for clubs to be in.

"I would like us to be more aggressive (in fighting the drug issue). But we have to take it step by step."