GEELONG star Patrick Dangerfield is looming as a contender for the AFL Players' Association presidency if retired Fremantle star Matthew Pavlich decides to relinquish the position.

Pavlich is expected to continue in the job at least until negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement finish and may still continue in the role throughout 2017.

The highly respected Pavlich, 34, has held the position since March 2015 but his retirement from the game has raised the succession question, with previous president Luke Ball handing over the role after he retired at the end of 2014.

The AFLPA constitution allows past players to sit on the board, but with six of the nine players on the current board nearing the end of their careers it is aware of the need to regenerate.  

AFL.com.au understands only two board members have informed the AFLPA they don't intend to continue beyond March/April next season when terms finish.

Although Dangerfield shapes as a logical candidate, the AFLPA is also understood to have not yet considered formally who might become president post-Pavlich.

Dangerfield, Adelaide's Rory Sloane and St Kilda's Leigh Montagna are the only board members certain to continue their playing careers next season, with Dangerfield having been a member of the board since March 2014.

Montagna, 32, has been on the board since 2015 but Sloane, 26, only joined at the start of this season.

Dangerfield, 26, who is favourite to win this year's Brownlow Medal, was part of an AFLPA delegation that met with the AFL in recent months to give the players' perspective on the collective bargaining negotiations.

He spoke on 3AW radio last week about the need for AFL players to accept increased media appearances as part of the game, with broadcast dollars funding the growth in total player payments.

Pavlich retired as a player at the end of the season after a decorated career with Fremantle while Ted Richards will have officially retired once the Sydney Swans campaign is over.

The playing careers of other board members, North Melbourne's Drew Petrie, the Western Bulldogs' Will Minson, Melbourne's Chris Dawes and Geelong's Jimmy Bartel are uncertain beyond 2016.

Petrie will not be with the Kangaroos while Minson and Dawes are out of contract and Bartel is yet to decide whether to activate a trigger clause that could have him continue with the Cats next season.

AFL.com.au understands the possibility of introducing female members to the board has been discussed, with the AFLPA representing female players in negotiations for the upcoming AFL Women's league.

The current round of collective bargaining negotiations are ongoing as players seek a percentage of AFL revenue.