THE AFL Players' Association will consider all possibilities to ensure there are two byes in place for 2017, says chief executive Paul Marsh.

One option discussed is for the players to forgo a week's holiday over the Christmas break and instead have the time off in season.

The existing model allows for a staggered bye period over three weeks at the mid-point of the year and a week off between round 23 and the start of the finals series. 

Marsh said the AFLPA was in the process of surveying all the players about their views on the byes and a number of issues in the game, with results due out in around a month's time.

"These are all things to discuss, but as it stands there are two byes in the 2016 fixture. The second one now is potentially benefitting eight of the 18 teams, and even coaches from those teams are actually raising questions about whether it’s a real advantage," Marsh said on Wednesday.

"If the season’s going to be the length it currently is, we think it would be much better (to have the byes) at roughly one-third and then two-thirds of the way through the season." 

The week's break in the lead up to finals adds another anomaly to the fixture and Marsh said the players were not convinced it was the right structure.

"The majority of players would say they're not (happy). If there is an extra week carved out, they would rather it be at a point of the season where it benefits everyone," Marsh said.

"There are others who also think it's not great preparation before a finals series.

"Even talking to some of the coaches and footy managers, they're not really sure how to handle that because it is unique.

"There certainly is a view that it does erode the advantage that you build up by finishing in the top four." 

Marsh said it was still unclear whether Michael Talia would return a positive detection under the AFL's drug policy, after the Sydney Swans youngster was charged with being in possession of a prohibited substance on Monday. 

Talia was stood down by the Swans after being arrested and will appear in Waverley Local Court next month.

"We've just got to let this play out because it hasn't gone through the court process yet," Marsh said. 

"The policy is about long-term behavioral change and we're not stupid enough to not think there may be some players who do dabble in illicit drugs - we know that's the case.

"Our role is to identify those players and help them."