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AFL players believe withdrawing their labour over a pay dispute with the league would be a last resort, according to players’ association vice-president Luke Ball.
Most of the AFL’s 782 players were expected to be involved in a meeting on Wednesday night, either in person at Melbourne’s Crown Casino or via video links to Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Adelaide.
In a show of unity, about 400 players turned up for the Melbourne meeting.
AFL chief Andrew Demetriou is opposed to the AFLPA’s demand for 25-27 per cent of AFL revenue to be locked in for players.
“All these things are really last-ditch things,” Ball said when asked if players would consider withdrawing their labour from events such as autograph sessions.
“We’re not really entertaining that at the moment at all.
“We want to get it done in a fair and respectful way so that we can keep playing footy and the fans can keep enjoying the footy and hopefully the ideal result for everyone.
“That’s the idea of tonight, to update the players on the AFL’s position and to get the majority’s feeling on which way we should proceed.”
Ball brushed off concerns raised by Demetriou that the pay claim from the AFL Players’ Association (AFLPA) would hurt clubs.
Ball said the players loved their respective clubs and that would never change.
“Every weekend we love playing for our clubs and we certainly don’t want to steal from our clubs. That’s not our intention at all,” he said.
“We love our clubs and we want to work with them.”
Players were expected to be briefed by Collingwood’s Ball, AFLPA players’ president Luke Power from the Brisbane Lions and AFLPA chief executive Matt Finis as they considered their next step in negotiations over their collective bargaining agreement.
Demetriou said on Wednesday he believed players are entitled to their fair share of the $1.253 billion TV rights deal was announced in April 2011.
But he added while players deserved a pay rise, it should not be tied to revenue.
He said it was a balancing act to manage the expectations of the game’s stakeholders.
“Getting that balance right and speaking to each group to get them to understand that here’s a pot of money that’s available, here’s what your fair share is, and we don’t link that to percentages, we link that to what’s fair,” Demetriou said.
“Whilst we’re looking after the players I must continue to invest in grass roots football, I must continue to put money into Auskick programs and facilities, and work with governments to develop school sport.”
Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell said the players simply wanted their piece of the pie.
“We are a unified group and we really want to get what is best for the players,” Maxwell said.
“But this is not a war. We’re not trying to fight the AFL or fight the clubs.”
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