The Australian Football League (AFL) today distributed the updated list of restricted and unrestricted free agent players to the 18 clubs across the competition.

The AFL also advised all clubs of a change in the Free Agency Compensation process. Clubs were advised as follows that ‘Compensation will be advised to Clubs at the time of the transaction rather than at the end of the Restricted and Unrestricted Free Agency Period”, as had previously occurred.

Clubs were told that the ‘compensation that may be due to a Club for the loss of a Restricted Free Agent will be advised within 24 hours of the acquiring club lodging the Form 41, but by no later than 5.00pm Monday October 13 2014.  The Compensation will be confirmed when the Current Club advises the AFL that it is not matching the offer.”

Clubs were told that the ‘compensation due to a Club for the loss of an Unrestricted Free Agent will be advised within 24 hours of lodging the Form 42, but by no later than 5.00pm Monday 13 October 2014.

Also, if a club ‘exchanges the compensation obtained from losing a Free Agent, or the net compensation from losing and gaining a Free Agent, it is no longer eligible to gain a Restricted or Unrestricted Free Agent,’ and, ‘if a Club gains a Restricted or Unrestricted Free Agent, it is no longer eligible to trade the compensation obtained from losing a Free Agent. The Club will be advised of the compensation resulting from the net loss of Free Agents.”

Free Agency Explained

Under the rules that were agreed between the AFL and AFL Players Association (AFLPA) in February 2010, restricted and unrestricted free agents may consider offers from rival clubs during the post-season period, following the 2014 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. An offer to a player only includes capped salary and capped ASA (Additional Service Agreements) amounts.

Under the AFL Player Rules, an unrestricted free agent may automatically move to the club of his choice. An offer to a restricted free agent may be matched by his club, which has right of first refusal over his services. If the restricted free agent player does not wish to remain with his original club, he must enter the draft or seek a trade.

Compensation in the form of AFL allocated draft picks will apply to clubs with a net loss of free agents, based on the formula determined by the AFL.

Restricted Free Agents

Shaun Higgins (Western Bulldogs).

Unrestricted Free Agents

Jason Porplyzia (Adelaide Crows); Jarrad Waite (Carlton); Dustin Fletcher, Leroy Jetta (Essendon); Luke McPharlin (Fremantle); Brad Sewell (Hawthorn); James Frawley (Melbourne); Michael Firrito (North Melbourne); Tom Logan (Port Adelaide); James Gwilt, Clint Jones (St Kilda); Adam Goodes, Nick Malceski (Sydney Swans).

HOW THE SYSTEM OPERATES FOR ALL PLAYERS ACROSS THE COMPETITION –

A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and is now out of contract.

The player is not eligible for free agency if his club wishes to retain him. He may only move clubs via a trade or the Draft. If he delists himself, he is subject to the Draft, and may be selected by any club.

A player has served seven seasons or less of AFL football at one club, and has been delisted by his club.

The player is a Free Agent and is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.

The player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.

The player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.

His original club, which chose to delist him, does not receive any compensation pick for the loss of the player.

A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since March 1 in his eighth season. (Restricted Free Agent)

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club has the right to match the presented offer.
If the club matches the offer, he may choose to remain with his original club, seek a trade or enter the Draft.
If the club does not or can not match the offer, the player can move to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.

A player has served eight or more seasons of AFL football at one club, is NOT one of the top 25 per cent highest-paid players at his club, and is now out of contract for the first time since reaching eight seasons of service. (Unrestricted Free Agent)

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival AFL clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.

A player has served ten or more seasons of AFL football at one club, has already come out of contract once in the period after March 1 in his eighth season, and is now out of contract. (Unrestricted Free Agent)

The player is eligible to field offers from all rival clubs.
If he wishes to change clubs, the player must decide on the best offer of his choice from one rival club.
His club does NOT have the right to match the presented offer, and the player can move AUTOMATICALLY to the new club of his choice.
His original club will receive a compensation pick for the loss of the player, on an AFL-determined formula to apply where clubs lose more free agents than they gain in any single transfer period.

Ends.