AFL player agents have defied a recommendation from head office that would have prevented them from approaching schoolboys as young as 15.
Instead, in a move that has divided opinion at the AFL and disappointed the league's national talent team, the AFL Players Association's Accredited Agents Board has ruled that managers can approach teenagers as early as the 10th month of their 16th year.
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The AFL had pushed for that age limit to be pushed out by one year.
The move was passed by the agents' board, which includes AFL total player payments boss Ken Wood, and ratified at Wednesday's meeting of the player managers. But it caught other league officials — who were due to push their case with club recruiters and list managers early next month — unawares after a week of internal turmoil at the AFL with the resignations of football manager Simon Lethlean and commercial boss Richard Simpkiss.Â
The team, which until last week worked under Simon Lethlean, had strongly campaigned that player managers avoid all contact with aspiring draftees until the October of their 17th year.
Brett Murphy, the AFL Players' Association executive who chairs the agents' board, defended the new age limit. He pointed out that the player managers also had been divided over the new rule, which has been the subject of strong debate for several years.
Murphy, whose board also includes player agents Tom Petroro and Peter Lenton, said the age limit to be put in place from October 1 this year was a "line in the sand" moment for the regulation of player agents.
"The reality is there was no rule until Wednesday," he said. "We've taken into account the views of some at the AFL, but also those who don't want any limit at all. There is no right or wrong here, and while I respect the views of all concerned, I believe this is a good outcome."Â
Murphy said the rule was designed to prevent talented athletes as young as 13 being approached by player managers.Â
It is understood Petroro was one who pushed for the older limit, while another powerful agent, Paul Connors, wanted the lower 16-year-old limit. Other managers argued  against any limit at all.
Several club list bosses referred to the new rule as the "Paul Connors Rule", saying the new legislation had been pushed to thwart the influential Connors from snapping up so many talented young players.
The AFL opinion, one conveyed by the likes of league officials Luke Power and Kevin Sheehan to parents after the recent national under-16 championships, was that it was often too early to identify emerging talent in their 16th year.
The view, which had some support at club level, was that promising 15 and 16-year-old footballers contacted by player agents were too often given false hope and then left disenchanted or distracted.
 They argued players aged 15 or 16 should not be targeted at a time when they should be enjoying a variety of sports and concentrating on their schooling.
Agents who break the rule face heavy fines and, potentially, the suspension of their licences.Â
Managers are prohibited from signing teenagers until a year before their eligible draft age.