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Live sport on SN this weekend“Live by the sword”: Crunch Time team debate max contract lengths
SEN • August 16th, 2025 6:14 pm
Sam Edmund, Gerard Whateley and Luke Hodge have debated whether the AFL should attempt to introduce maximum contract lengths when the next collective bargaining agreement (CBA) is decided.
Since the signing of Buddy Franklin from Hawthorn to Sydney in the 2013 trade period on a nine-year deal, there has been a rise in clubs securing their best talent on long-term contracts.
Players such as Sam Taylor, Connor Rozee, Aaron Naughton, and Mac Andrew are just some of the names that have signed deals or have the clauses that could see their current deals last for 7 years or more.
With this becoming more prominent, it is now an issue that the AFL is looking into, with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon saying it was “something we are keeping an eye on”.
This has led to discussions of the AFL potentially introducing maximum contract lengths, as seen in the NBA, where clubs can only sign players for a maximum of five years.
When discussing the topic, Edmund was quick to point out that it would be a little while before any changes to contract lengths would take place.
But he feels that if clubs are willing to take the risk and potential positives of maintaining star players for a long period of time, then they must face the risk of the deal going pear-shaped.
“It felt like it was in the distance thou, didn’t it?” Edmund said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“It’s something they are aware of and monitoring, which is a favourite piece of corporate language.
“I don’t feel like it is anywhere near the here and now. It certainly doesn’t come up in any of the conversations with the clubs, the CEO’s meeting or anything of that nature.
“They have put extra protection mechanisms if you’d like for those really big contracts that require whole of board approval and the like.
“I don’t think it is something that is coming in the here and now.
“And I hate the whole idea of saving clubs from themselves. These are adults, these are professionals. They know what they are doing, and if they are prepared to take a risk, then they are prepared to take a risk.
“Live by the sword, die by the sword.”
Whateley would be in agreement and thinks that by the time we reach negotiations of a new CBA, we will have many examples to persuade people from pursuing long-term contracts.
“It can’t be till 2028 anyway (with) the collective bargaining agreement and how players feel there,” Whateley said.
“I do think by then, we are going to have a few cautionary tales.
"But I shudder at the idea of doing an 11-year contract for Harley Reid.
"As what if after five years, if it doesn’t turn, of misery at West Coast and he wants to get out, and he still has so long to go.
“The downside is tangible. And if you’re a great player, you’ll be fine doing five (years), then three and then four rather than doing 11 in one go and throwing yourself into the complete unknown.”
However, Hodge would disagree with both Edmund and Whateley, believing that it is not fair for the future of a club to be potentially ruined by one person.
“I actually don’t mind the capped length of a contract,” Hodge explained.
“If it was put in there, Melbourne wouldn’t be in the position that they are (in) with three similar blokes (Petracca, Oliver and Pickett) with long-term deals that they can’t move because they had the heavy money and long-term deals.
“I know that is pushing against the trend of you guys.
"But what we have seen in the past is people in football clubs make shocking decisions through desperation, and I don’t think the future of that club should be held ransom because of it.”
