Carlton veteran Dale Thomas has removed the much-discussed trigger clause from his AFL playing contract.
Thomas is in the fourth year of a lucrative free agent deal and would have triggered the option for a fifth if he had reached a certain number of games this season - thought to be 15.
The 29-year-old hasn't enjoyed a good start to the season and didn't earn an automatic recall to the AFL side after recovering from general soreness two weeks ago.
He returned to the senior side that beat Collingwood at the weekend and is intent on recapturing top form without ongoing speculation about his place in the team.
"At the recent request of Thomas, the club and Thomas' management have agreed to remove the option of a contract extension based on games played this season," a club statement released on Tuesday read.
Thomas played 157 games, including the 2010 premiership decider, in eight seasons with the Pies before his high-profile free agency switch.
He's been hampered by injury at the Blues and hasn't had the impact that the club had hoped in 48 games.
While the removal of the contract trigger is a risk for Thomas, who can now be let go at the end of the season if his form doesn't warrant a new deal, he and the club are hopeful the move will free him up mentally.
"Acknowledging that we as a club do not publicly comment on the nature of player contracts, Dale has selflessly put the club first in this situation," football chief Stephen Silvagni said.
"Pleasingly for Dale, he will now be able to go out and play football without the constant, external commentary around the nature of his contract."
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