THE UNPRECEDENTED moves in this year's NAB AFL Trade period has proved the binding of player contracts is near non-existent, Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury says. 

Pendlebury's strong stance comes on the back of Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell being traded to West Coast on Friday, despite signing a one-year deal, in July, to stay at the Hawks in 2017 

"The only thing contracts are good for is getting home loans," Pendlebury told Collingwood's website.

"I think it’s the end of contracts.

"They don’t mean anything anymore." 

Carlton's Bryce Gibbs sensationally requested a trade home to Adelaide earlier in the week, despite being contracted at the Blues until the end of 2019. 

"Really, anyone can get out of it whenever they want," Pendlebury said.

"I think even last year, a few players got out of deals that were long term.

"Port Adelaide was trying to get (Hamish)Hartlett to leave and he'd just signed a five-year deal." 

Pendlebury believes clubs will soon have more power to move players, via trade, without their absolute consent as the AFL continues to align itself with the framework consistent in American sports, including the NFL and NBA.

"You could take it one step further and be really ruthless and give players power but also give the club power to do that," Pendlebury said.

"Players can request trades to exactly the destination they want to go and clubs don’t get a fair return on what they sort invested with for three or four years.

"I think that step will come in… it's something that will probably happen in the near future."