AFL's free agency system broken by side deals and complex trades
Ben King and Zak Butters' moves involved side deals that exposed flaws in the AFL's trading system.
The AFL's transfer system has broken down. Clubs make complex side deals to work around official trade rules.
Ben King is joining Hawthorn. Zak Butters is moving to the Bulldogs.
Both are restricted free agents. But the path involved multiple linked trades, compensation talks, and informal agreements.
Aiden Schubert moved from Hawthorn to Gold Coast after less than 11 months at the club. This was part of one arrangement.
The league's rules on free agency, drafting, bidding and points exchange are tangled. Clubs find workarounds faster than the AFL can write rules to stop them.
The system needs simplification, not more complexity.
- Ben King, Zak Butters
- Players transferred
- less than 11 months
- Schubert tenure at Hawthorn
Why it mattersUnregulated side deals undermine competitive balance. They make the trade period unpredictable for players and clubs alike.
AustraliaThe AFL's credibility in managing transfers is at stake, affecting how 18 clubs compete and how star players move between states.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 h ago
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