THE CONTINUED push for free agency could strengthen if 2008's trade week concludes with minimal activity, says the AFL Players' Association.

It took until Thursday for the first exchange in a week of stalemate, with Port Adelaide midfielder Adam Thomson sent to Richmond for pick 42 in the NAB AFL Draft.

Unless there is a flurry of deals before Friday's 2pm deadline, it will be a significant drop-off in the number of players that have found new homes in recent years.

In 2006, nine players were swapped, however, it climbed to 20 last year – headlined by the agreement that sent West Coast captain Chris Judd to Carlton.

In 2003, 25 players were exchanged.

"I certainly don't think there will be more than the nine we had in 2006," AFLPA chief executive Brendon Gale told Friday's Herald Sun.

He also confirmed that the AFLPA had until December 31 to devise a free agency model that it could present to the AFL Commission, and that it was the priority of its agenda for the past year.

Gale appeared before the commission earlier this year to promote free agency and said that "they (the commission) have seen fit to pass a resolution that it requires further consideration.

"This whole exercise of trade week is going to be fed into the process," he added.

It is unclear which free agency model the AFLPA will endorse, but Gale suggests freedom to leave when uncontracted could be influenced by the number of years' service a player has given his existing club.

"We think there are compelling reasons why a good professional who has given time and service to a particular club, and is offered a contract of insufficient value, should have the right to go to a club where he is sufficiently valued," he said.

"We feel very strongly about that.

"Some guys are being unreasonably restrained. That's disappointing."

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The 2008 AFL exchange period runs from October 6-10, 2008. Please note, no trades are official until paperwork has been accepted by the AFL and formally recognised after 2pm EST on Friday, October 10.

Follow all the ins and outs of football’s most intriguing week at afl.com.au/trade. Track every trade as it is confirmed, plus the very latest news via our twitter feed.
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