Fight for recognition

In late 1980, the VFL withdrew recognition of the AFLPA, effectively leaving the players without a negotiating body.

In 1981, a pre-season match between Essendon and Fitzroy was threatened with strike action by the association over the VFL's non-recognition of the body. The VFL halted the proposed strike by agreeing to recognise the association as the negotiating body for all players.^[2]

In 1984, Bryan Roberts resigned. Len Coysh left one year later. Peter Allen remained to run the association and stayed committed to the cause for two decades before resigning to head the AFL Coaches Association until his death in June 2007.^[3]

Getting organised

By 1990, the VFL had renamed itself the Australian Football League (AFL). The AFLPA followed suit, and signed its first Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in tumultuous circumstances, as it worked through the negotiation process with the AFL. The CBA was eventually finalised and called a Deed of Agreement.

In July 1992, the AFLPA negotiated a new CBA, which included a minimum salary of $7,500, minimum payments of $750 per senior game, and $250 for a reserves game. This signified the start of what was to be a key feature of AFLPA's function.

Industrial turmoil

The AFL withdrew recognition of the association in January 1993, prompting a historic meeting of players at the Radisson Hotel in Melbourne.

The AFL had informed players that the standard contract would no longer exist and that all contracts would be negotiated individually between the clubs and the players. The players again threatened strike action.

In March 1993, the AFL and AFLPA appeared before the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC). At this hearing it was determined that a dispute between the parties did exist and that the AIRC had jurisdiction to determine an Award. The AFL and AFLPA were instructed by the AIRC to attempt negotiations away from the AIRC environment. These negotiations led to the CBA of 1994–1995.

CEO

In-house

In 2005, AFLPA moved all services provided under the Player Development Program in-house, employing experts in the fields of education, player welfare and career transition.

In 2006, a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (2007–2011) was negotiated with the AFL. The key principles of the five-year agreement focused on delivering stability and opportunity, ahead of a crucial period where the game will push for unprecedented national growth.^[6]

AFLPA Induction Camp

The AFLPA organised an Induction Camp on 10 January 2010 to introduce new draftees into the AFL system. The two-day event, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), was attended by draftees from each of the 17 AFL teams including newly formed Gold Coast Suns. Some of the topics covered were:

• Lifeskills
• Accountability and responsibility
• Depression
• Road safety
• Illicit Drugs & Gambling
• Anti-doping
• Community work
• Diversity in the AFL

AFLPA Indigenous Camp

In 2000, AFLPA created the AFLPA Indigenous Camp to support indigenous players and increase their profiles as good role models. The AFLPA Indigenous Camp has since been held biannually. It has been held at:

The Camp consists of a variety of workshops that includes:

• Indigenous Leadership Program (ILP)
• Financial planning
• Indigenous history

Upon completion of the camp, the All-Stars Indigenous team play against an AFL club in an exhibition game. The All-Stars have played Carlton (2003), Western Bulldogs (2005) and Essendon (2007). The 2011 team featured a star-studded line-up of the AFL's top Indigenous players including Indigenous All-Stars captain and Sydney Swans co-captain Adam Goodes, Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli, Melbourne's Liam Jurrah and new draftees including Curtly Hampton from the GWS Giants and recently named Gold Coast Suns recruit Harley Bennell. Due to unsuitable playing conditions being brought on by heavy rain and Cyclone Yasi, the 2011 team was unable to play against Richmond despite having the match moved from TIO Stadium in Darwin to Traeger Park Oval in Alice Springs.^[7][8]

AFLPA MVP Awards

The AFLPA Most Valuable Player Awards is an annual event recognising excellence in players by players. Winners of the Leigh Matthews trophy is selected by peers through a voting system. Past winners include Andrew McLeod (2001), Ben Cousins (2005), five-time winner Gary Ablett (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013) and Dane Swan (2010).

AFLPA Madden Medal

Named in honour of two former AFL Players Association presidents and champion Essendon and Carlton players, Simon Madden and Justin Madden, the Madden Medal recognises outstanding achievement on and off the field by an AFL player over the entire course of his career.

The AFLPA launched the Madden Medal in 2007 to annually recognise the achievements and contributions of retiring AFL players through four award categories: Football Achievement Award, Personal Development Award, Community Spirit Award and the top accolade, the Madden Medal.

As of 2022, the most recent winner of the Madden Medal is former Carlton and Adelaide player Eddie Betts.^[9]

Recipients:

Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship

Started in 2001, the Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship—named after Carlton premiership captain and AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick—awards young players who have shown a combination of football and academic excellence.^[10]

Beyond Blue Depression Awareness program

In partnership with the AFL and AFL Players Association (AFLPA), Beyond Blue developed and delivered a depression-awareness program within the AFL, incorporating information sessions for players, coaches and other football club staff,^[11] and the Beyond Blue Cup match.^[12]

Illicit Drug policy

In 2005, the Illicit Drug policy^[13][14] was introduced to support the Anti-Doping Code, introduced in 1995, that governed AFL players. The voluntary code, which test players for illicit drug use out of the competition, aims at reinforcing players as healthy elite sportsmen and to prevent the sport from falling into disrepute. The code is further strengthened by volunteer AFL players who have agreed to a trial of holiday hair testing for illicit drugs—a first in the international sports industry.^[15] While all Australian sports are subject to in-competition testing, the AFL is one of only three sports in Australia—the other two being cricket^[16] and rugby^[17]—that conducts out-of-competition testing.^[18] Although the code has drawn criticism from the federal government for its three-strikes policy,^[19] it received commendations from others who cite it as a "prospect of rehabilitation and caters for medical confidentiality."^[20]

Accelerate program

In 2010, the AFLPA supported Anthony Rock with his Accelerate program which provided a unique opportunity for 20 young men rejected by the AFL draft the first time around by putting together an infrastructure of expertise in a bid to keep the game's most talented second-tier players from 18 to 23 in the correct physical and emotional state to win a second chance. In partnership with sports consulting group Infront, three major sponsors, and the AFLPA's support, Rock was able to set up partnerships with seven VFL clubs and worked with 20 footballers hoping to be drafted.^[21]

Free Agency

In early 2010, the AFLPA and AFL came to an agreement which will see the introduction of free agency following the 2012 season.

From the end of the 2012 season, any player who is delisted will automatically become a free agent, eligible to sign with any AFL Club [10]. Players who have eight years with an AFL club will be eligible to become free agents when they are coming out of contract.

The introduction of free agency does not affect the salary cap, draft system, list sizes, or revenue sharing.

Etihad Stadium

In 2010, the AFLPA requested that the AFL consider relocating games from Etihad Stadium^[23][24][25] if the venue's surface didn't improve, following complaints that the slippery grounds were a risk as players were "slipping over like B-grade amateurs."^[26][27]

High-profile cases

The AFLPA represents its members in a number of high-profile cases.