WEST Coast forward Ashley Hansen will join former Essendon champion and past VFLPA president Simon Madden on a new look AFL Players’ Association executive committee.

Hansen and Madden were elected at the AFLPA’s annual general meeting today.

Hansen becomes the first Eagle on the committee since current coach John Worsfold served on the executive from 1995 to 1999.

Hansen replaces Darryl Wakelin, who retired from the AFL at the completion of the 2007 season after nine years on the AFLPA executive.

Madden joins the committee as past player representative replacing former Swan and Bulldog Simon Garlick after nearly five years of service.

The election of Hansen means all states where AFL is played are now represented on the committee of the AFLPA.

Hansen said he was looking forward to the challenge of his new role. “The AFLPA plays a valuable and leading role within the football industry,” Hansen said.

“As the level of professionalism grows within the game, the collective interests of AFL players are well served by a considered and representative players’ association. The AFLPA provides all players with a collective voice and I very much look forward to playing my role.”

Madden said the AFLPA had come a long way since the formative VFLPA years. “I trust my time within the game combined with my commercial out of football experiences will add value to the influential organisation the AFLPA has become,” Madden said.

The 2008 AFLPA executive committee:

Joel Bowden – Richmond (president)
Brett Burton – Adelaide (vice-president)
Luke Ball – St Kilda
Adam Goodes – Sydney
Ashley Hansen – West Coast
Tom Harley – Geelong
Nick Maxwell – Collingwood
Robert Murphy – Western Bulldogs
Luke Power – Brisbane
Simon Madden- past player representative
Brendon Gale - AFLPA CEO