Former Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said this week that the new player transfer rules would create a "two-tiered" competition where the richest clubs dominate year after year.
He suggested that free agents would be drawn to teams with the best facilities and strongest chance of short-term success.
But AFLPA general manager of player relations Ian Prendergast said the AFL's unique free-agency model would actually allow bottom-ranked clubs to rebuild faster than under the current system.
"No-one knows exactly how free agency is going to operate once it's introduced, but based on the research we've done into free agency models overseas, and also considering the balance model that is unique to the AFL, we don't think that it's going to create a two-tier competition," Prendergast told AFL.com.au on Thursday night.
"In fact, our view is that it allows the sides on the bottom of the ladder to regenerate their lists and build them more quickly than the ability they have at the moment going through the draft and trading."
Under the free agency model agreed upon by the AFLPA and the AFL, players become restricted free agents after eight years at one club and unrestricted free agents after 10 years.
Prendergast predicted the system would see loyalty remain a major consideration for free agents.
"My personal view is that player loyalty will still be a considerable factor, particularly given the length of time that a player needs to be at a club before exercising his free agency rights," he said.
"Clubs will have the opportunity to build a strong culture and provide a supportive environment when they bring in a young player."
On Wednesday, Malthouse said free agency would take the League back to the pre-draft era when a small number of teams dominated for long periods of time.
"Once free agency comes in, we are doomed to a two-tiered competition, make no mistake about it," Malthouse told Adelaide radio station 5AA.
"I played in the VFL when there were four or five dominant sides, and the rest were making up the numbers.
"And anyone that stuck their head up and looked like they had a good player, he was gone within a year."
The new rules will come into place at the end of this season.
The AFL will release the official list of free agents on March 20, which will feature several big name stars, including Collingwood's Travis Cloke, St Kilda's Brendon Goddard and Richmond's Brett Deledio.
