Geelong skipper and president of the AFL Player's Association Patrick Dangerfield has backed the reintroduction of mid-season trades.
However, the Brownlow medallist did concede that reimplementation of mid-year movements was "probably 12 months away".
First reported by The Age, Dangerfield's comments came AFLPA's delegates conference in Melbourne, with AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh also offering his two cents on the matter.
Throughout the the 1970s and 80s, mid-year trades were open to all 12 VFL clubs. However, with the code going national across the course of the late 80s and into the 90s, and contract sizes increasing, the in-season trade window was wound in.
Despite being in favour of the ability to wheel and deal in and around the bye period, Dangerfield offered a caveat, claiming that moves in this direction could see the game become too "Americanised".
“I would do it ... most of the time if it has taken this long it says we're probably 12 months away,” Dangerfield stated. “Maybe that makes sense."
“This is elite-level sport. This is where tough conversations do happen and happen every season.
“We don't want the AFL to be Americanised to the point where you lose total sense of where players are going. We see that in the NBA, and it is difficult to keep up.
“We will get there at some point, it's just how fast it happens.”
Last September's new five-year collective bargaining agreement, a deal between players and league valued at $2.26 billion, has left the door open for mid-season trades to return.
Yet, as stated by Marsh, the league is yet to make the moves necessary to create two annual trade periods.
“The AFL has the ability to do that and that sits with them. At this stage, they have not told us they want to do it,” Marsh said.
With many kinks yet to be ironed and semantics debated, it is yet to be determined at which stage of the season any new exchane window would open and eventually close.
