Free agency a priority for player chief

NEW AFL Players' Association chief executive Matt Finnis says the push to bring free agency into the game remains a top priority for his organisation.

Finnis, who has replaced new Richmond CEO Brendon Gale as AFLPA chief, said the issue of free agency would continue to be pushed with the League.

"We've been advocating and the players are united in their push for free agency – that's something that's pretty high on our agenda," he said.

"I would've thought in the next 12 months we will be pretty close to commencing the negotiations on the next collective bargaining agreement, which will be a historic agreement when you consider the expansion within the AFL.

"More broadly, as an organisation, we've got a really successful program in development and protecting the welfare of athletes. That's world class and we've built that over several years. Now is the time to ensure we can really innovate and take that to another level as well."

Finnis believes the AFL and AFLPA are keen to develop a reasonable form of free agency, which will allow players to cross to rival clubs more easily.  

"I think there is a willingness at the highest levels of the AFL and amongst the clubs [to bring in free agency]," he said.

"It's a matter of us being able to identify and agree on the right model.

"We take a collaborative approach to it in the industry, but it's certainly something that we feel that needs to be settled sooner rather than later."