The AFL Players' Association has taken aim at Collingwood's inclusion of a behaviour-related clause in free agent Jordan De Goey's tabled five-year deal.
The clause contained within the deal is understood to be the reason why De Goey has turned his back on the offer, with Collingwood told to alter the deal to see their star midfielder as any chance re-sign, according to a report by The Age.
The decision from the club comes after a number of indiscretions in De Goey's eight years with Collingwood that are seen to have brought the game into disrepute.
The AFLPA's general manager Brett Murphy is understood to have released a statement in the wake of the revelations around De Goey and Collingwood's recently tabled offer, expressing the AFLPA's dissaproval of the inclusions of the clause.
“The AFLPA does not support additional behavioural clauses imposed on players beyond what’s already in place through the standard playing contract," the statement reads, per SEN's Sam Edmund.
"Players are also bound by the code of conduct, AFL rules and other policies, which provide options for sanctions where appropriate and permitted in different circumstances, as well as broader legal principles applying to all employees.
“The content of AFL players' Standard Playing Contract is agreed between the AFL and AFLPA. Having a standard form contract is the norm in world sport and any attempt to deviate from them undermines the integrity of this process and creates inconsistency.”
According to Edmund, the sticking point in the standoff that was included in the contract read along the lines of: "We can stand you down and terminate the contract whenever we think necessary".
De Goey has gained reported interest from St Kilda as he weighs up his future and free agency rights.
The 26-year-old has played 137 games in black and white since joining the Magpies as a top 10 pick in the 2014 National Draft.