THE AFL has confirmed it will introduce various categories of free agency from 2012 for players who have served eight or more years at one club.

The League and the AFLPA have agreed to introduce the new conditions to allow long-serving players and players who have been delisted to easily move between clubs without necessarily relying on the draft or a trade.

If the player is in the top 10 highest paid players at the club an opportunity exists for the clubs to match any offer from a rival club for the out of contract player. The player will then have the option of remaining with the current club, being traded or nominating for the draft. 

If a player leaves his original club the club will then receive a compensation draft pick on an AFL determined formula.

In earlier negotiations, the AFLPA sought restricted free agency after four years and unrestricted free agency after five years.

Out of contract players that have served 10 or more seasons at one club will be eligible to field offers from all rivals clubs without the club being able to match the presented offer.

That will enable the player to move automatically to the club of their choice.

The same ruling will apply to players that are out of contract, have served eight or more seasons at one club, and are not among the 10 highest-paid players at the club.

"We believe this agreement is a positive outcome for players and the AFL competition," AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said.

"Importantly, the agreement protects the integrity of the salary cap and draft -- key pillars in the ongoing success of the competition.

"The agreed model is fair for all concerned in that it gives players more flexibility but also contains safeguards that will help maintain the evenness of the competition."

AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis said it was pleasing to finally secure a more flexible labour market for players. 

"We've struck a balance between respecting the culture and traditions of our competition, whilst acknowledging the rights of players for increased self determination," he said.
 
"We're pleased to be able to introduce a model of free agency which is uniquely structured to suit the AFL competition. 

"Our campaign for free agency has never been about revolution - rather it has been focused on improving a system which has helped to secure the AFL competition as the pre-eminent professional team sport in the country."

Under the agreement:

•       Players delisted by a club on or before 31 October will be unrestricted free agents.

•       Players who are not in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their clubs will be eligible for unrestricted free agency if they have served eight years on the primary list of the club.

•       Players who are in the top 25 per cent of salaries at their club will be eligible for restricted free agency for their first new contract after they have served eight years on the primary list of the club. This is the case regardless of when the first new contract arises. For example, a player who is contracted after his seventh year for two, three, four or years will still only be eligible for restricted free agency for his next contracts as a nine, 10, or 11 year player.

•       A top 25 per cent player will then be eligible for unrestricted free agency for his next contract, provided that a player can’t be an unrestricted free agent until completing at least 10 years service at one clubs.

•       Restricted free agents have the right to move to a club of their choice subject to the current club’s right of first refusal over their services. That is, if the current club can match the offer from a rival club, the player must stay or enter the draft. The tabled offer only includes capped salary and capped ASA amounts.

•       Compensation in the form of AFL allocated draft picks will apply to clubs with a net loss of free agents. This will be based on a formula to be determined by the AFL.

•       The Veterans List allowance will be amended to apply to players with 10 years service at one club and will be based on a set amount of TPP per player calculated as a percentage of TPP.

•       The AFL will closely monitor access to uncapped third party independent arrangements.

•       All player investments with associates must be lodged with the AFL.
The new system will commence at the end of 2012 after the entry of Team GWS into the competition, and will remain in place until reviewed at the end of 2016.