One of the
pet whipping boys of AFL clubs is player agents or managers, a group that club officials often see as adversaries.

At a recent meeting with AFL management, club chief
executives attacked some agents for charging excessive fees –
which are as much as 20% of top players’ marketing money – and also expressed concern about the growing power and
influence of agents. It was suggested
they now believe some of their top players are forging closer relationships with
their manager than the club that employs them.

Well welcome
to the real world, as Crikey talks to the two biggest AFL player management
companies which between them represent more than one third of all AFL senior
list players. And the message back to
the clubs is loud and clear – “don’t shoot the messenger.”

The full story is on the site here.