Former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has already said the AFL needs to change its drugs policy. Picture: David Caird. Source: Herald Sun
AFL players will agree to more drugs scrutiny during the "volcanic" holiday period, proposing a doubling of hair tests that lead to in-season target testing.
But the AFL Players' Association will dismiss out of hand a push to include off-season hair testing in the three-strikes regimen.
It is also understood the players' union will refuse to consider a two-strikes policy at tomorrow's drugs symposium, despite former Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett labelling the current three-strikes policy "grossly unfair" and dangerous to player welfare.
AFL heavyweights will meet at Etihad Stadium tomorrow to discuss perceived weaknesses in the policy.
A key discussion point will be the controversial off-season period during which players are potentially tempted by drugs.
At the AFLPA's December meeting of club delegates, players suggested doubling the hair-testing numbers would better identify those who required help with drug problems.
Players who test positive in one of the 100 or more hair tests each off-season would be target-tested as many as four or five times during the season.
Hair tests at the end of an off-season can detect a player's drug history dating back three to four months, but are not considered definitive enough to be used for in-season drug testing.
Hair testing also provides the AFL and the players' union with a reading on the level of drug use throughout the competition during the off-season.
But having voluntarily agreed to the hair-testing trial, the AFLPA will not relent and allow players to be urine tested during the off-season, believing they are entitled to some respite from the scrutiny they face when playing and training.
The AFLPA refused to comment yesterday in the lead-up to tomorrow's drugs forum, but already has conceded the self-reporting loophole that allows players to dodge positive tests with impunity would have to be tightened.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert in November spoke about "volcanic" off-season behaviour from players.
But any perception the players' association will fold on a range of issues is wide of the mark, despite several clubs pushing for significant change to the AFL's illicit drugs policy.
The league argues the target-testing aspect of the policy ensures repeat offenders will be caught.
Testing now occurs on Sunday and Monday mornings rather than mid-week, and is focused on players with strikes against their names or positive hair tests, rather than those who have had a clean slate for several years.
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