He says changing the current rule will have a negative impact on the industry and clubs and does not buy the argument that removing it will help equalise the competition.

On Tuesday, club chiefs heard a proposal from the equalisation working party to remove the veterans' allowance with $400,000 being added to the salary cap in future years to give clubs an incentive to retain experienced players.

That extra money would not be specifically earmarked for veterans.

"I couldn't be more strong in my belief that the veterans' rule should remain," Connors said. "The rule has only been refined in the last two years. Let's let the rule in its current shape play out for the next few years before we look at it."

Under the current veterans' allowance rule, clubs can include $118,038 in each veteran’s contract but keep that figure outside the salary cap.

Connors says the careers of St Kilda's Jason Blake, Geelong's David Wojcinski and Collingwood's Ben Johnson were prolonged because of the veterans' allowance.

 

On Wednesday at the AFL captain's day Western Bulldogs' skipper Ryan Griffen spoke of the important role his club's veteran, Daniel Giansiracusa, has played in the team's performance on and off the field in recent years.

 

Griffen described the importance of his club being able to retain Giansiracusa as "huge".

 

"When he is on the bench he is like our coach down on the bench. As soon as you are coming off the ground he is giving direction and that sort of thing so he is so valuable to our footy side," Griffen said.

 

Giansiracusa signed a one-year contract at the end of 2013 and will transition to a coaching role in 2015.

 

His teammate Robert Murphy, who will qualify as a veteran when next out of contract, is also seen as a positive role model.

 

"If ‘Murph’ sees that the boys are down in any way he knows how to bring you up. [He is] a funny sort of fella and he is great around the footy club.” Griffen said. 

 

The AFL Players Association is concerned about what impact the move will have on the willingness of clubs to retain senior players and the effects that might have on a club's culture.

 

The AFLPA is expected to meet the AFL within the next fortnight to discuss the potential change. 

The working party on equalisation argues that free agency will allow clubs to secure older players if experience is needed and that veterans might have to accept a smaller wage late in their career to stay at a club.

 

However player agents believe players have more chance of prolonging their careers at the club they have spent time at and where their ability to have a positive influence within a familiar environment is stronger.

 

Geelong's Harry Taylor told AFL.com.au that the Cats' veterans have been very positive influences at the football club.

 

"They just bring a lot of leadership and a lot of calmness in high pressure situations. It is something that is very difficult to do when you are a younger player," Taylor said.

 

Geelong and the Sydney Swans are considered two clubs that have benefited most from the veterans’ allowance because of the number of veterans they have on their list.

 

Some industry figures argue that clubs are entitled to a reward for creating an environment that retains players. There is also a belief that the current rule is achieving its original aim of prolonging champions' careers.

 

Connors is one of many who doubt that will continue to happen if the allowance is scrapped.

 

"I think it [the rule] is helping clubs create first class environments to retain players," Connors said.

 

Taylor admitted that while it was disappointing Geelong – whose environment is considered first-class – had to move on premiership players Paul Chapman, Josh Hunt and James Podsiadly at the end of last season such difficult decisions were an unfortunate necessity if clubs wanted to remain competitive.

 

"[It's] tragic that we have to lose these sorts of players that have given a lot to our club but if we don't we sometimes get stuck and we want to stay competitive for a very long time," Taylor said.

 

The average age of players in 2014 is now 23 years and 248 days and has been gradually trending upwards since 2009 when the average age across the competition was 22 years and 362 days.

 

There are 38 players listed as veterans in 2014 and only veterans Chapman (from Geelong to Essendon) and Daniel Cross (from the Western Bulldogs to Melbourne) found new homes during the exchange period.

 

Adelaide: Brent Reilly, Ben Rutten

Brisbane Lions: Jonathan Brown

Carlton: Kade Simpson, Jarrad Waite

Collingwood: Nick Maxwell, Dane Swan

Essendon: Dustin Fletcher, Brent Stanton, Jobe Watson, Jason Winderlich

Fremantle: Matthew Pavlich, Aaron Sandilands

Geelong: Jimmy Bartel, Corey Enright, Steve Johnson, James Kelly, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie

Gold Coast: Nil

GWS Giants: Nil

Hawthorn: Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell

Melbourne: Mark Jamar

North Melbourne: Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito, Daniel Wells

Port Adelaide: Dom Cassisi, Kane Cornes

Richmond: Chris Newman

St Kilda: Lenny Hayes

Sydney Swans: Adam Goodes, Nick Malceski, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O'Keefe, Lewis Roberts-Thomson

West Coast: Dean Cox, Darren Glass

Western Bulldogs: Daniel Giansiracusa