SCOTT Pendlebury has fired another shot in the ongoing players' pay dispute with League headquarters, forecasting the possibility of players sitting down at the start of JLT Community Series matches.
"I think it's something that we've got to fight for, and I don't think the players are going to blink either," Pendlebury said on a Collingwood produced podcast.
"If the AFL's not going to blink and the players don't blink who knows what happens when the ball goes up in that first NAB Cup (JLT Series) game.
"I have no qualms sitting down at the first quarter, not at all.”
Collective bargaining talks between the AFL and Players' Association have been slow, and there is no timeframe on an outcome.
AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh is leading negotiations for the code's 800-plus players while League headquarters has finance boss Ray Gunston and legal counsel Andrew Dillon handling talks.
The players want a fixed percentage of the game's revenue which has skyrocketed thanks to a six-year $2.508 billion media rights agreement.
Pendlebury used events in overseas pay disputes to justify the players' stance.
"You model yourself off what the best businesses in the world have done, and sporting (leagues).
"The NBA has had two lockouts and played a 50-game season instead of an 82-game season to prove a point that, as players, we need to be more respected than what they felt they were.
"We listen to Marshy, we take his advice. If he comes to this football club, and he said ‘Scott, in order to get this deal moving, we need you to sit out the first quarter'...(he paused)."
Pendlebury acknowledged fans would not be happy.
"They'll be spewing, and rightly so."
Contacted for a response, the AFL maintained its consistent public stance.
"We are working towards reaching an agreement with the AFLPA for the next CBA arrangement," League spokesman Patrick Keane said.
"The players are a very important part of the game as the stars who put on the show and we need to manage their needs, alongside those of our clubs, the state leagues, community football and our fans across the country."
