This follows just four of 57 eligible free agents switching clubs during the 2014 free agency period.
An AFLPA conference last weekend said the move would increase the free agency pool and improve the chances for clubs to attract players at close to market value.
With so few players switching clubs, there is greater potential for contracts being offered that are beyond market value, which can squeeze the money available to teammates under the salary cap.
Players Association CEO Paul Marsh told AFL.com.au that reducing the eligibility period will "lessen the impact of the squeeze".
Only James Frawley, Jarrad Waite, Shaun Higgins and Nick Malceski switched clubs via free agency in 2014 while James Gwilt joined Essendon as a delisted free agent.
Eight restricted and 25 unrestricted free agents signed with their existing clubs while 19 free agents retired or were delisted.
Marsh said that delegates also supported the scrapping of clubs receiving compensation for losing unrestricted free agents.
The AFLPA argued that compensation acted as a barrier to deals and might benefit the clubs involved in the trade while working against the other 16 clubs.
Delegates also supported moves to create a portable free agency system that would allow players who swapped clubs to be eligible for free agency after being an AFL player for a certain number of seasons.
It would set minimum eligibility periods for time spent with individual clubs and on AFL lists overall.
The AFL will review the free agency system before the beginning of next season, with clubs expected to resist any moves to reduce the eligibility period.
"People are possibly railing against the thought of reducing the eligibility period because they look at what they perceive to be the problems and think they will make it worse - and we think in a lot of cases it will make it better," Marsh said.
Marsh said evidence did not support the perception that the system benefitted clubs higher on the ladder, further entrenching their success.
Of the 34 free agents to have switched clubs in three seasons, 22 have joined clubs below the one they were leaving while 12 went to clubs higher on the ladder.
"It is actually not happening in the way perceived," Marsh said.
He said that while Hawthorn managed to secure Frawley, the club had lost four free agents in previous seasons – Buddy Franklin, Clinton Young, Xavier Ellis and Tom Murphy – giving the Hawks salary cap space to chase the former Melbourne defender.
Marsh also took aim at those who suggested the introduction of free agents had killed any notion of loyalty.
"[Free agency] actually gives players a choice as to whether they go or stay, and the vast majority are staying despite the fact they have got these opportunities opening up under free agency," Marsh said.
"Clubs are doing a better job at providing a first class sporting workplace … because they know they have to [in order] to keep their players, and that has to be good for the industry."
