Browne's view, one shared by a number of clubs and notably premiership coaches Mick Malthouse and Paul Roos, was that the free agency system had rewarded the top players but would ultimately cause a squeeze across the middle tier of club lists and lower paid footballers.

At an AFL Players' Association delegates conference late last year, Browne reportedly provided a fascinating analysis of the AFL structure and the rules and regulations put in place during his time as the game's legal boss.

His view was that the AFLPA, which has since put forward a submission to reduce the free agency qualifying period to six years, should have considered charging the AFL a multimillion premium over the period of the next broadcasting agreement to start in 2017.

One figure thrown up at the conference was that the rights to free agency could be worth up an annual $10 million. Browne suggested that money could help boost the players' retirement fund.

Players' boss Paul Marsh, whose association is set to start new wage negotiations with the AFL pushing  for a set percentage of the next media deal, confirmed Browne was of the view that "all players should get paid more".

"Jeff raised the free agency idea as one of a number of interesting ideas which gave us plenty of food for thought," said Marsh.

"But it's something we fought very hard for. I'm not sure we'd sell it back."

The AFLPA free agency submission strongly rejects the prevailing club view that the new system will ultimately cause a divide between star players and the rest.

Widely touted as the next in line for a position on the AFL Commission, Browne was seen to have been snubbed recently by AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick who instead recalled outgoing director Chris Langford back onto the commission.

That followed Linda Dessau's resignation following her appointment as Victoria's next Governor.

Fitzpatrick explained his move was in the interests of stability on the AFL board after two recent personnel changes, but Browne had the strong support of several clubs who have been privately critical of the chairman's decision.

Fitzpatrick's leadership was also slammed by recently retired long-serving Sydney chairman Richard Colless who was strongly critical of the Langford recall.

The view of the clubs is that Fitzpatrick has been unwilling to introduce the question of a succession plan regarding the commission chairmanship and that Browne had been seen as a future chairman.

AFL bosses are understood to have told the clubs Browne remains in line for the next commission vacancy, potentially within 12 months.