THE AFLPA believes roughly 20 to 40 more players could enter the market every season, if time limits to hit free agency are reduced to six years as part of the next collective bargaining agreement.
Removing the 'restricted' bandings from free agency and fixing the League's compensation models are also on the radar, as the players' union looks at ways to improve upon the League's current free agency system.
TRADE HUB All the latest player movement news
The AFLPA argues that more player movement can positively impact competitive balance, but says the League's 15-year-old free agency model has been underutilised in its current format.
Data shows less than 10 restricted free agents have hit the market per year since the League's COVID-19 shutdown, with clubs more proactive in tying down their best players to long-term contracts far earlier in their careers.
On average only seven free agents have moved clubs per season since the introduction of the AFL's free agency model in 2012, a figure the AFLPA believes need to be far greater in the future to stimulate a more competitive League.
Only 35 of 132 eligible restricted free agents have moved clubs since the start of free agency, while 57 of 727 unrestricted free agents have exercised their rights in the market. More than 50 per cent ultimately stay.
"Free agency is an important part of the player movement system and should do two things; create a more open player movement market and enhance competitive balance," AFLPA boss James Gallagher said on Tuesday.
“Our review suggests free agency is underutilised and hasn't materially impacted competitive balance either for better or worse. The gap between the bottom and top-placed teams in the competition is no different now than what it was before the introduction of free agency.
TRADE TRACKER Get the details of every trade
“AFL player careers start with no choice of employer through the draft. The average turnaround time from bottom four to top four on the ladder is seven years … longer than most players' careers.
"Player, club and broader industry behaviour has also changed considerably since free agency was introduced 15 years ago. Considering these factors, this will be an important part of discussions during collective bargaining agreement negotiations in the next 12 months."
Since the introduction of free agency, data shows that 62 per cent of players had careers of seven years of less, meaning less than half of the competition have even hit the AFL's current eight-year free agency mark across that span.
The AFLPA's figures also suggest that across the last five years, top six sides had signed only eight of the 31 free agents to move clubs while only five free agents had been secured by top four clubs for 'Band 1' compensation packages.
WHO'S CALLED IT QUITS 2026's retirements and delistings
As many as eight premiership sides since 2013 haven't had a single free agent in their Grand Final team, compared to the six that have, with Geelong's three free agents from its 2022 flag team the most in any one premiership team.
Removing 'restricted' bandings has been identified as a way to free up player movement within free agency, while the players' union also suggested the current compensation formula has entrenched competitive imbalances.
The League will negotiate the next collective bargaining agreement in 2027.