GEELONG premiership veteran James Kelly believes reducing free agency qualification to six years will encourage more players to move to battling clubs.
With negotiations around free agency rules set to heat up this year, the AFL Players' Association is pushing for the qualification period to be cut from the current eight-year mark.
Kelly said such a move would not only benefit players, but also clubs that are rebuilding and struggle to attract free agents under the current framework.
"I understand powerful clubs seem to be getting all the good players, but … if you were a 26-, 27-, 28-year-old, you're not going to want to go to a club that's in a five-year rebuilding phase because you might not be there (for success)," Kelly told SEN on Tuesday morning.
"A lot of guys are leaving because they want to win games and they want to have success. That's really why everyone plays.
"But if you're giving younger players more of an opportunity to be a part of growing a club, then it'll become more attractive for them.
"Then it's not just about the money, it's about being a part of a club that's on the way up rather than trying to chase the cash at a big club and win some games."
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has been an outspoken critic of free agency, declaring it had created a two-tiered system of haves and have-nots, with powerful clubs monopolising the free agency market.
Last week, a number of coaches spoke to AFL.com.au about the subject of free agency, with many divided on the topic.
Kelly said there were younger players who weren't getting opportunities at their clubs who deserved the opportunity to be free agents.
"After three or four years (at a club) you probably know where you sit within the group," he said.
"If there's an opportunity at another club, then you should be able to go. I don't see the reasons why you couldn’t.
"We (players) have got such a short opportunity and such a short period of time to get the most out of our bodies, the game should be about the players and where they want to go."
