The Australian Football League Players Association has joined the Sydney Swans' "fight to lift the trade restrictions placed upon the club," with AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh holding talks with AFL chiefs in the coming days, according to Caroline Wilson of THE AGE. The Swans will submit their challenge to the AFL Commission next Wednesday. The club "has not ruled out taking legal action against the league as the 2015 trade period approaches and the reality of its situation sinks in." Marsh spoke with Swans CEO Andrew Ireland during the AFL's parliamentary function in Canberra on Wednesday night. He said that the AFLPA regarded the original trade ban and subsequent restrictions "as unfair on the club and its players." Marsh added his union "also remained concerned that the restrictive nature of Sydney's bid to trade at the end of this season would impact upon players from other clubs." Marsh: "I'll be taking the issue to the AFL shortly." The AFL has "still not responded to accusations of lying" from Sydney Chair Andrew Pridham, "who launched a strong attack on the competition's governing body." He revealed that Ireland had written to AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan requesting the AFL "desist from claiming Sydney had been aware of the coming trade ban as it negotiated its phase out of the cost of living allowance." McLachlan's explanation "included the claim the club had been aware of the forthcoming ban" (THE AGE, 8/20).
