An AFL legend has backed limits on how long AFL contracts can be after a spate of contracts with more than seven years attached were recently signed.

Melbourne recently signed star midfielder Kysaiah Pickett until the end of 2034, while Fremantle signed their star Hayden Young until the end of 2033.

There is also a host of stars signed until the end of 2032, seven years away, which are Connor Idun and Sam Taylor (GWS), Jai Newcombe (Hawks), Luke Davies-Uniacke (NM), Conor Rozee (PA), Noah Balta (RIC), Max King (STK) and Aaron Naughton (WB).

Four-time premiership player and two-time Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge has backed the limit on how long an AFL contract can be.

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“I actually don’t mind the capped length of a contract,” Hodge said on SEN’s Crunch Time.

“If it was put in there, Melbourne wouldn’t be in the position that they are, with three similar blokes (Christian Petracca, Clayton Oliver and Kysaiah Pickett) with long-term deals that they can’t move because they had the heavy money and long-term deals.”

Hodge conceded it went against what a lot of people were saying about not putting limits in, but wanted to protect clubs against themselves.

“But what we have seen in the past is people in football clubs make shocking decisions through desperation, and I don’t think the future of that club should be held ransom because of it,” he said.

There are rumours that there will be more long-term deals with high-calibre players such as St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and West Coast Eagles’ Harley Reid, looking to sign lengthy deals to lock away their future.

There are talks that the AFL and the AFLPA will look into if contracts need to be limited in terms of years given at their next CBA negotiation

While players are keen for long contracts as it secures their future, it can hamper a club if they don’t live up to their expectations or are injured.

Consequently, if a player wants a trade, a club can show them their contract and keep them to it.