A PLAYERS' strike during this round of collective bargaining negotiations with the AFL is unlikely, AFLPA boss Paul Marsh says.
However he said the possibility of such action would remain alive until the parties reached a resolution to the talks.
Marsh told SEN Radio the last thing the players' association wanted was a strike and he did not believe such action would prove necessary.
"I'm not going to sit here and pre-empt a strike or anything like that. That is the last thing we want. We want to get a fair deal done and we will keep negotiating hard until we get to that point," Marsh said.
When asked whether strike action was possible, Marsh made it clear it was not where he envisaged the negotiations ending up.
"I think it's a possibility but I'll give you another word, it's unlikely. I don't think that is where it will end up," Marsh said.
The AFLPA is back talking with the AFL after the League postponed a series of meetings before Christmas, however Marsh said a resolution remained a way off.
The union is seeking a six-year deal to align the CBA to the next broadcast rights agreement, with the main sticking point between the parties still the principle of whether players should receive a fixed percentage of revenue.
"This is being driven by the players," Marsh said.
Marsh said the specific percentage was yet to be discussed, with the AFLPA still pushing for the AFL to agree to the principle of sharing revenues.
The AFL has argued that the players will be fairly compensated, but they are just one set of stakeholders receiving money during the period of the next broadcast rights agreement.
Marsh said the AFLPA was keen to invest in ramped up programs for past players as well as to boost the players' pay packets, and claimed that most players worked a 50-60 hour week during the season.
Meanwhile, a most valuable player will be awarded for the NAB AFL Women's Competition in its inaugural season.
The MVP will be presented at an event immediately after the AFLW season, with the Grand Final to take place in late March. Every player in the competition will also be invited to the AFL Players' MVP Awards in September, alongside their male counterparts.
As with the men's MVP award, the prize for the females will be voted for by the players.
"Over the years, we've seen winners of the Leigh Matthews Trophy and the other award categories express how much it means to them to have the respect of their colleagues," Marsh said in a statement.
"There was never any doubt that we would provide the same opportunity for our female members to be honoured with a set of player-voted awards."
Three players from each team will be on a shortlist for the MVP, with those names determined by who their teammates think have been the most valuable.
In other news, Hawthorn stars Shaun Burgoyne and Cyril Rioli will be among those attending the four-day AFL/AFLPA Indigenous All-Stars camp in Broome starting on Wednesday.
All up, 55 players will attend, and only three clubs will not be represented: the Western Bulldogs, Sydney and Adelaide.
"The camp will provide all indigenous players the opportunity to not only connect with culture, but to further educate the industry about what we can be doing better to support past, present and future indigenous players," Marsh said.
"It's a priority for the AFLPA Indigenous Advisory Board that the AFL industry is working together as a whole to support indigenous players and their families, from the minute they are drafted and well into retirement."
