Free agency will eventually lead to a one-sided competition, as well as the death of loyalty, one-club players and western civilisation as we know it. At least, that’s what some will have you believe.

Will players switch clubs more freely than before, now that free agency exists? Of course; that’s the point of it. But – cost of living allowances aside – salary caps will prevent the sides up the top from attracting all the game’s best players, and so far we haven’t seen any of the mass exoduses that have been predicted for the teams at the other end of the ladder.

A year ago many wondered why anyone would want to play for Port Adelaide. 12 months later, after the Power fell just short of a preliminary final berth, some are asking the same question about Melbourne.

This trade period the Dees have recruited former Adelaide and Western Bulldogs’ best and fairest winners, as well as a 20-year-old who was selected with pick three in the draft just two years ago. The idea that clubs down the bottom of the ladder will be unable to attract new talent has so far been a furphy.

There’s also very little evidence to suggest one-club players will become a thing of the past. To put it simply, the vast majority of players aren’t changing clubs. It’s worth looking at the number of players who have actually switched teams since the introduction of free agency.

Though admittedly there are a few days left in this year’s trade period, only 18 players have moved clubs so far – including seven via free agency. Last season 43 players found a new home during the trade/free agency period; hardly a staggering number. Given there are 817 players in the competition, only slightly more than five per cent switched clubs last year.

At the turn of the century, things weren’t all that different. During the 2000 trade period – long before the days of free agency – 33 players made their way to a new club during what was then trade week. Keep in mind, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney didn’t yet exist, meaning the percentage of players to shift clubs hasn’t changed much at all.

There have, of course, been leaner trade periods along the way – only nine players changed clubs in 2006, and six in 2008 – but generally things have remained fairly steady. More than 20 players have moved clubs in nine of the 13 years since 2000.

Free agency was introduced because, as many media outlets keep reminding us, ‘it’s what the players wanted.’

Some interpreted this as a suggestion all players want to change clubs. This isn’t the case – players simply want control of their careers. The majority of them don’t wish to leave their clubs; they just want the option available should they ever need it.

We aren’t likely to see the demise of one-club players, but we may see the end of players being forced to enter the pre-season draft simply hoping they can get to their club of choice.

It’s also unlikely we’ll see mass exoduses at clubs. We may, however, find we’re no longer reading about low-profile players who can’t make their way to a new club until ‘the big fish’ have been traded.

Players, for the most part, have stayed loyal to their clubs and will continue to do so in the future. Free agency won’t change that. Instead, it might mean that loyalty at footy clubs will go both ways. Players simply want to work in a positive environment where they’re respected and treated well. As long as clubs hold up their end of the bargain, they’ve got very little to worry about.