Coaches Simon Goodwin and Brad Scott believe we will see a Mid-Season Trade period introduced into the AFL, with Scott even labelling it “inevitable”.

After reports emerged a Mid-Season Trade period could force players to the offloaded to other clubs against their will, Scott was quick to point out restrictions could be put in place to help both club and athlete.

“It doesn’t sound right – trade players against their will,” he said on AFL 360.

Watch every match of every round of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

“You can put certain protections around that.

“You might say clubs can trade him but they’ve got to pay him 10 or 15 per cent more than he’s currently on.

“I think we’ve got to be open minded rather than being I’m either all for it or all against it. The devil’s in the detail here.

“My personal view is it’s inevitable.

“Ned Guy, he’s in charge of that at the AFL and he’ll talk to all the clubs. Once there’s an appetite from the industry, I think it’ll move pretty quickly.”

Goodwin agreed he was in favour of a Mid Season Trade period, and believed it could help keep the competition from growing stale late in the year.

“I think you can see what generates an interest in the game in the trade free agency system as it sits now and I think the more we can do it within our game, the better it’s going to become,” he said on AFL 360.

“You look at competitions around the world and you see what’s happening whether it be clubs can trade players against their will, or just Mid Season trades, Mid Season opportunities, it generates interest within the game.

“I can see it starting to transfer to our game, whether that’s in the next few years or that’s five, six or seven years away, who knows.

You feel it’s not too far away.

“You’d be naïve to think it’s not coming in at some stage.”

Goodwin said a Mid Season Trade could be the answer for clubs struggling at the bottom of the table.

“I think in time we’ll look back and anytime there’s change it’s uncomfortable for someone in the industry,” he said.

“I think it’ll just add layers to if you do things right, you make good decisions, you’ll come out the other end well.

“We need to get clubs that are down the bottom opportunity to advance quicker in the game. You don’t want to see clubs sitting down the bottom for five or six years and not have the opportunity to move up the ladder quickly.”

Fox Footy’s Jordan Lewis said he didn’t believe the AFL would gain enough support for a trade period that could see players shipped off against their will.

“If a club is willing to sign a particular player on a particular deal, well then that’s just bad luck (if they then want to offload the player),” he said.

“If they can’t then facilitate a trade, I don’t think the AFL then can come over and say to the player ‘you have to move to interstate or wherever. Pack up your family, pack up your house, pack up everything else’. You signed the deal, I think you’re willing to stay at the club.”

Jonathan Brown said the AFL could look to emulate sports in the US where players are regularly traded and shift between teams.

“I think the players still don’t earn the level of pay – you see in America the players get traded against their will, but they are on millions of dollars,” he said.

“I don’t even think the Americans like it,” Lewis added.

“A lot of families base themselves in LA because they are sick of moving around all over America, so the money I don’t think is the issue.

“It’s upsetting living arrangements and friends you’ve got and schools. There’s a lot more things that go into it.

“I think it’s a thing that won’t pass.”