A PLAYER strike is “on the table” if the AFL doesn’t bend in collective bargaining agreement negotiations, says players association board member Leigh Montagna.

The Herald Sun reported last week that talks were indefinitely delayed as league bosses considered the players’ claim, which would tie their pay to a set percentage of footy revenue.

It’s believed negotiations could extend until after the current agreement expires in October.

The AFL and clubs have long opposed the concept and favour paying the players a fixed dollar amount.

St Kilda veteran Montagna said he couldn’t understand why the AFL was so against the percentage of revenue model and was adamant that striking action remained an option to the players.

“A strike is on the table,” he said.

“It is the last resort, and the players certainly don’t want to do it. But the players will be prepared — if it got to that case — to do it.

“I’m not sure why the AFL don’t want the fixed percentage (model) and what their reasoning is for that. They haven’t given a reason.

media_camera AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“(AFLPA chief executive) Paul Marsh is a strong leader and the players will be behind him. It is a very last resort. There are other mechanisms we can put in place before we get to that stage.”

Next year’s NAB Challenge could be the games targeted for any strike action.

Montagna, who has played 278 games for the Saints, said the players were fed up with being paid on “approximate” figures.

“For the last 20 years now, the AFL has said what revenue (it believes) they’re going to make and (then) what they actually have (gone on to make) has always been a little bit skewiff. And always in favour of their figures,” he told Triple M.

“We just want to have an equal share, so that if the game grows, we grow with it. And if the game for whatever reason does decrease, our value decreases with it.

“We just want to be an invested partner and have a shared, fixed percentage (of revenue). We think we’ve got a model that isn’t complicated.

“The players will be pushing very hard for it.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan last week said the league “agree with the principle of the fortunes of players being in line with the fortunes of the league”.

“There are a couple of things where we are clearly not on the same exact page, but I think there is a hell of a lot where we are,” he said.

“We will continue to work and we are committed to a fair deal.”

Montagna said chartered flights should be used more for interstate trips to ensure fairness.

“Some clubs get business class seats, others don’t,” he said. “It does need a lot of work.

“(Chartered planes are) probably not utilised enough.”