PLAYER manager Ricky Nixon reportedly has two major law firms on standby to challenge the AFL’s rules on player movement.

The Australian reported on Friday that Nixon planned to force the league’s hand on free agency for players by the threat of action in the Supreme Court.

The newspaper said it was likely that a challenge to the player transfer rules was likely to come from an aggrieved player or an agent, rather than from the AFL Players’ Association.

Nixon claimed several of his clients had been forced out of the game in the past two years because of shortfalls in the trade and draft system.

"I've sworn, that if it ever happens again, I will challenge it," Nixon said.

"I will invite, in a tender process, the biggest law firms in Australia to come in and go to bat for my player against the AFL, as a test case.

"And I've already had two of the three major law firms put their hands up and say 'please, Nixon said it was inevitable that the rules would be challenged.

"And whilst the AFL laugh it off as a threat, the time's coming for free agency and it was always coming."

Another player agent, Paul Connors, reportedly told The Australian that Supreme Court action could not be ruled out unless the AFL immediately introduced free agency.

"It's a major issue and the next round of discussions between the league and the players will be crucial," Connors said.

"The players are united in their beliefs, so much so that I believe it will be a player who challenges the AFL on restrictive trade."

AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale said the existing movement of players was too restrictive.

He told The Australian that his union was demanding two types of free agency, a restricted form and an unrestricted form.

Under the restricted form, which might kick in for players with five, six or seven years of service, the player's original club would have the right of last refusal for any new contract.

The unrestricted form would be for longer service and the player's original club would not have the last right of refusal.

An AFL spokesman told afl.com.au that the league was open to looking at ways to improve the draft and trading system, and that free agency hadn't necessarily been wiped off any future agenda.

"There's been talks around (free agency) with the AFL Players Association," he said.

"We continue to discuss the trade and player rules with the association, and that's been an ongoing discussion.

"In the last two years, player movements have actually increased during the trade periods."