THE AFLPA believes Jake Carlisle's manager didn't do anything wrong in withholding information from St Kilda about the controversial video featuring the high-priced key forward.
But the players' union will support an investigation into how much Anthony McConville knew before last Wednesday's trade with Essendon went through – if the Saints request it.
The video of Carlisle's self-proclaimed "clearly inappropriate behaviour", in which he was depicted snorting a white powder, aired on Channel Nine last Wednesday night just hours after he became a Saint.
Saints recruit Carlisle 'truly sorry' for video
"Our information is that Anthony knew of the allegation; he didn't know that was absolutely what had happened here," AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh told radio station SEN on Tuesday night.
"He spoke to our guys about it on the morning of the trade and at that stage the information [he had] certainly wasn't definitive.
"From that perspective, we don't think Anthony has done the wrong thing but we'll respect St Kilda's right to seek an investigation if that's the way they want to go."
Senior Saints 'filthy' with Carlisle
Marsh said McConville had spoken to the AFLPA before the trade went through and informed them he believed the existence of the video was "just an allegation and it hadn't been substantiated".
He also said the AFLPA and the AFL were close to announcing the revised illicit drugs policy, which he believed would have likely seen Carlisle receive a strike for his behaviour.
It isn't yet known if the defender will receive one, although the Saints have said they believe he should "if [he] is found through some kind of police activity or otherwise or nominates himself" to have taken an illicit substance.
Marsh said the revised voluntary policy would not feature changes that allowed clubs in the market for specific players to know their strike history.
"We've fought really hard for that not to be the case, this is really sensitive personal information," he said.
"I don't think it's appropriate for personal information just because they're footballers to be provided to the next employer.
"There are lots of things that could happen to a player that would mean he couldn't play for his new club and the clubs themselves go about doing their due diligence on anyone they're going to recruit.
"The clubs may find out some information along the way about players but we do have to protect the players' rights … as emotive as these things are, I don't think the clubs have a right to that information at the first-strike stage.
"If a player is one strike away from that situation [of three], the club doesn't have a right to that information and never has had a right to that information and it's not going to change now."
Meanwhile, Marsh said the AFLPA was still investigating – at Greater Western Sydney's request – the role of Adam Treloar's manager Peter Blucher in regards to the new Collingwood player's off-season operation.
Treloar had hip surgery while in between clubs, with Blucher allegedly behind the organisation of the procedure.
"We've got agent regulations and we need to understand if the agent has complied with the regulations," Marsh said.
"We know there was obviously a contract between the player and the club and we need to make sure the player has complied with his contract.
"There's a bit of work to be done and that will probably take a week or so before we can get an answer on that."
The AFLPA expects a resolution to the AFL's investigation into new Sydney Swan Michael Talia passing classified Western Bulldogs information to his brother, Adelaide defender Daniel, to land as soon as Wednesday.
The players' union also expects the 2016 fixture – which will be announced on Thursday – to feature just one bye.
Marsh said they would continue to fight for the players' right to have two rests during future seasons.
