Aussie Rules stars threaten bizarre sit down protests

Aussie Rules players may make a mark with sit down protests during games. Photo / Photosport

Top Aussie Rules players are threatening sit down protests during games as part of a guerrilla warfare campaign over a pay dispute.

In what the Herald Sun described as "an explosive alternative to strike action", Port Adelaide star Kane Cornes said they were also considering masking the AFL logos, linking arms or raising fists in solidarity.

A source told the newspaper that " "nothing is off the table - the players have a plan that will explore a wide-range of tactics".

Cornes said the 850 players are demanding a fixed percentage of revenues.

Protest suggestions included that "all the players get together and just sit down on the ground and don't play for five minutes. That's the sort of idea that they were throwing around ... there are other little things they can do, like running out 20 minutes late."

Cornes claimed it was "ridiculous" that some football department staff were earning more than AFL players.

The Herald Sun reported that Essendon captain Jobe Watson canvassed fellow players about a sit-down six years ago to protest a substitution rule, but the idea was knocked back by the club's skipper at the time.