NEWLY elected AFL Players' Association board member Scott Pendlebury will not rule out strikes as a last-gasp option if negotiations over a collective bargaining agreement break down.
Pendlebury put the option of strikes on the table if the AFLPA struggled to come to a resolution over a CBA.
While it appears both parties are closing in an agreement, the Collingwood captain said the players "wouldn't rule out" striking.
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"It's something that we wouldn't rule out but as it gets closer and closer, if it happens before the season that's great, but it's something we won't rule out," Pendlebury said at the AFLPA season launch in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
The AFLPA held its annual general meeting before heading to the season launch, agreeing on changes to the constitution to allowing independent members on the board, meaning up to two non-players will be permitted as directors.
Women will be allowed on the board and at least one female player must be a director, with Daisy Pearce the first woman to hold that role in the AFLPA's 43-year history.
Six people have left the board while five – Pearce, Pendlebury, Easton Wood, Sam Docherty, Phil Davis – have joined, with one non-player set to become a director.
AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh hoped an agreement on the CBA could be reached before the season started, but is not "making any promises".
"We are trying as hard as we can to get there before that date," Marsh said.
"In practical terms it doesn't matter so much. Players are getting paid. They've got contracts in place, but I think it would be a nice thing to for them to get this out of the way so the season can get started.
"But there's still work to be done and I'm not making any promises."
Both parties have been meeting on Mondays in recent weeks with a six-year deal expected, in line with the broadcast agreement.
"All things being equal (it will be six years). Both parties would like a longer-term deal so we've got certainty but nothing's agreed until it's agreed," Marsh said.
The agreement is expected to be based on set numbers for projected revenue, while the players are also seeking a percentage of unbudgeted money coming in.
"There's two parts to this. There's the forecast revenue, and I think we've said for a long time now that that is a known parcel of revenue. We're happy to agree to a number based on what's known," Marsh said.
"We need a mechanism when unbudgeted revenue ends up being more than budgeted revenue. That's a key issue we're working through.
"The AFL understand our issues with this and I'm pretty confident we'll get there."
Matthew Pavlich will stay on as president until at least the CBA has been finalised, and likely past that date as well.
While board discussions have been held as to how long the former Fremantle captain would keep the presidency, no decision has been made, with a former player having the role a change for the AFLPA.
"This is a bit of a shift for us," Pavlich said.
"In some ways, it could be better that a past player does take the role, because it is becoming more complex. But to this point in time, it's nice to have someone pretty close to the game still involved."
The introduction of non-players on the board came about from a governance review during the past two years that found more diversity was needed, rather than anything learned during the CBA negotiations.
"We want to diversity the board. Traditionally (directors have) been guys that look like me, are around my age and have studied," Pavlich said.
"Like all boards and like all businesses, diversity's pretty important, and that was something that we put a mandate on."
