The AFL has announcement that a free agency model will come into player in 2012. The biggest question for Geelong fans is simple - what does this mean for the Cats?

The framework that has been negotiated sees players that have logged eight seasons service with one club eligible for some form of free agency. The top 25% of players at the club will be eligible for restricted free agency, meaning that the current club can match the offer and the player will be bound to stay.

For the remaining eligible players, they will be free to negotiate with any team after spending eight years on the club’s list.

Cats CEO Brian Cook believes the model is workable for all concerned.

“We agree with the AFL that it was important to formulate a free agency structure that was fair to the clubs and the players,” Cook said.

“Having now seen the model that has been agreed, we feel that the AFL and the AFLPA have developed a model that will work for everyone concerned. If free agency was to be introduced then this is the ideal way.

“It addresses the needs of the clubs and the players, and provides a framework that will provide greater opportunity for players and clubs.

“It recognizes the importance that supporters place on players staying at one club through their careers by allowing clubs to match the offers for the top 25% of players, and it also should open up the ability of players that have been delisted or feel they will have greater opportunity at another club.

“We should not be afraid of this system as it should work for everyone.”

Teams losing players via free agency will be eligible for compensation. A look at the clubs existing list would see the following players eligible for some form of free agency after the 2012 campaign:

Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Mark Blake, Shannon Byrnes, Paul Chapman, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, Josh Hunt, Steve Johnson, James Kelly, Cameron Ling, Andrew Mackie, Darren Milburn, Cameron Mooney, Brad Ottens, Max Rooke, Matthew Scarlett, David Wojcinksi.

That’s 18 players, but it is unlikely all those players will still be playing in the 2013 season. Others will have logged 14 AFL seasons by then and may not be attractive to clubs looking to sign a free agent, particularly when there will be compensation involved.

So while on the face of it the change will be dramatic, the reality is that the impact in the first year is likely to be minimal to Geelong in terms of losing players.

Of the younger stars currently on the list, Travis Varcoe and Mathew Stokes would be eligible after the 2013 season, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins would not be eligible to test the free agency waters until after the 2014 season, and Harry Taylor would have to wait until 2015.