The AFL has reportedly communicated a memo to clubs regarding the recent trend of players being signed to contracts of six years or longer.
The league's football department is said to be clamping down on clubs signing players to long-term contracts, following the recent slew of lengthy player extensions.
In particular, the unfolding situations of Brodie Grundy and Clayton Oliver are understood to have prompted the league's recent action.
Grundy, who was shunned by Collingwood in the midst of a seven-year agreement, cemented his move to the Sydney Swans this trade period after his experiment with established ruckman Max Gawn at Melbourne didn't go as planned this year.
Grundy sought a trade to the Demons at the end of last year, though his tenure lasted just a single season; on-traded to the Harbour City last week.
Meantime, Oliver, who signed a seven-year extension with Melbourne in June of last year, was the subject of serious trade speculation amid a disconnect with the Demons' higher-ups but appears likely to remain with the club for the foreseeable future.
According to Seven reporter Mitch Cleary on Monday evening, the competition's powerbrokers are demanding that future long-term player deals come with the permittance of that club's most senior bosses, to avoid regret down the track.
"The AFL has taken things into their own hands, hitting clubs with an email demanding a higher level of scrutiny when they submit new long-term deals to AFL HQ," Cleary reported.
"The memo, titled 'High-risk player contracts', says that any contract lodged six years or longer must come with written president and CEO approval to avoid clubs questioning the deals in years to come.
Western Bulldogs spearhead Aaron Naughton is the latest to have signed a mega-deal with his club, recently securing a monstrous eight-year extension with the Dogs. He is next scheduled to come out of contract in 2032.
Father-son Magpies Nick and Josh Daicos each penned six-year deals midyear, while first-year Sun Bailey Humphrey added four years to his initial two-year rookie contract this season, bringing his current Carrara commitment to six years.
Exciting Crow Josh Rachele, in just his second season, extended his West Lakes stay until at least the end of 2029, while Docker Brennan Cox recently confirmed a six-year commitment to Fremantle.