AFLPA Player Agents Accreditation Overview

2. An Agents Accreditation Board has been established for the specific purpose of managing the accreditation process.

The board is made up of the following members:

• Chairman - Matthew Finnis - General Manager - Operations, AFL Players' Association
• Ken Wood - AFL Investigations Manager
• Dan Richardson - AFLPA Accredited Agent, Elite Sports Properties
• John McMullan - John McMullan Solicitors
• Michael Rowe - Tennis Australia Legal Counsel
• Ian Prendergast - Former Carlton Player and AFLPA Club delegate
• Liam Pickering - AFLPA Accredited Agent, IMG 

The board meets regularly to review the accreditation process, the rules and regulations governing AFL player agents, the code of conduct for AFL player agents and other important or topical issues.

2. The Accreditation Process
Only individuals may be accredited - accreditation cannot be attached to a company or any like entity. Accreditation will be granted to those who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the AFL rules, player contracts, the Collective Bargaining Agreement and can provide evidence of professional indemnity coverage.

a. AFLPA Agents Accreditation Application Form
All agents will be required to complete an application form as well as a Victoria Police Criminal Records check and agree to abide by the AFLPA regulations governing player agents. Agents will also be required to send payment for accreditation.

b. AFLPA Agents Accreditation Ongoing Professional Development
As part of agents' ongoing professional development there will be a combination of state based workshops and conferences throughout the year. Non-attendance must be explained in writing. Failure to attend without satisfactory explanation will result in revocation or suspension of accreditation.
The cost of the workshops is included in the annual accreditation fee.

c. Exam
All agents wishing to become accredited will, after submitting their application and payment of the fees be eligible to sit an examination.

Upon application for accreditation, all applicants will be sent the following information:

• AFL/AFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement
• AFL National Draft Booklet
• AFL/AFLPA Code of Conduct
• AFL/AFLPA Anti Doping Code
• Standard Playing Contract
• 3.0 Player Rules
• 4.0 Rules and Regulations 
• The most recent player handbook

The examination will be a take-home 72 hour examination and will be e-mailed or mailed to applicants. The exam must be returned to the AFLPA within the specified timeframe.

d. Provisions for Failure
Should an agent not reach the pass mark for the examination, he or she will not be permitted to re-sit the exam for a period of one month. Applicants will be entitled to view their examination results.

e. Fees
Fees have been determined by the AFLPA with primary consideration given to the costs associated with administering the administering the Accreditation process.

The fee structure is as follows:

One-off fees for the administration of the application and an initial accreditation of an AFL player agent apply.

Application fee - $500
First time accreditation fee - $250

All agents wishing to maintain their accreditation will be charged an accreditation fee of $750 per year.   This fee includes the cost of the compulsory ongoing professional development workshops and conferences and information updates provided from time to time.

Annual accreditation fee - $750

Total fee payment required: $1500 + GST $150 = $1650 total.

3. Other Issues
a. Failure to become accredited
The AFL has undertaken not to register players whose contracts are negotiated by non-accredited agents. In accordance with the AFLPA rules, the AFLPA executive has the right to suspend the membership of players who do not have either an accredited agent, parent or themselves negotiate their contract.

b. Where to from here
If you wish to proceed with AFLPA agents accreditation, complete the application form and return it to the AFLPA with your payment (see fee structure above)
Cheques are to be made payable to the AFL Players' Association and forwarded to:

Matthew Finnis
General Manager - Operations
AFL Players' Association
Level 2/375 Albert Road
Albert Park VIC 3206

c. Questions?     

If you have any questions or if you require additional information please do not hesitate to contact Matthew Finnis at the AFLPA on (03) 9926 1344.