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2016 continues to mark the rapid rise of the status of female athletes in Australia, with the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) reaching a deal to significantly boost the pay of AFL Women’s players
The deal brings the wages on offer in the new women’s league comparatively into line with that of male rookies.
» Women’s AFL league on The Roar
» All the teams and squad lists for the women’s AFL
» Complete 2017 women’s AFL fixtures
It’s no secret that supporters of AFL Women’s were incredibly underwhelmed with the initial $5,000 base wage offering provided by the AFL. On the back of exhaustive negotiations, the AFLPA has now reached an agreement with the league that will see the base wage rise by $3,500 in 2017.
Base contracts in 2017 will now be worth $8,500 with a further increase in 2018 meaning that wage will rise to $9,276. Effectively, an additional $750,000 has been added to the payment pool, meaning that 2017 will see total payments of $2.275 million.
Priority selection players will receive $12,000 in 2017 with that figure jumping up to $12,846 in 2018. It’s also sweet reading for marquee players who will receive $17,000 contracts in 2017 and enjoy a near thousand-dollar boost to $17,946 in 2018.
As is the case for the male players, the women will also have to pay for their own private health insurance.
While those are all big wins for the competition, there are additional aspects of the deal which are also added bonuses.
Players will sign 24-week contracts which cover the eight-week season, as well as the pre and post-season.
They will also receive two free pairs of football boots each season, a pair of runners and income protection for 12 months in the event of injury in addition to the coverage of medical expenses for 12 months after their contract.
To further sweeten the deal, players will be offered $80 in travel expenses for each night away from home relating to matches. Relocation expenses will also be covered where possible.
Mothers of newly-born children will still be able to focus on their football, with the AFL approving a carer’s travel allowance if players have a child aged under 12 months.
AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said achieving equality had been the key focus throughout the negotiations.
“The AFLPA has acted on the advice of its members and our women’s football advisory board throughout this negotiation with the AFL,” Marsh said.
“It’s their belief that we’ve now achieved an acceptable outcome with regards to the pay structure and terms and conditions included the standard playing contract.
“The AFL has invested in the future of women’s football and laid strong foundations for what’s already shaping as a commercially attractive product.”
Every listed player in AFL Women’s was given the opportunity to vote on the new deal, with the vast majority voting to accept.
“The players overwhelmingly voted in favour of accepting these payment terms and now look forward to working in partnership with the AFL and clubs to make the AFL Women’s competition the success we all know it will be,” Marsh said.
“Importantly, our members can start their AFL journeys knowing that they will now be presented with the same opportunities to thrive in the industry as their male colleagues.”
2016 has already featured two significant windfalls for women’s sport in Australia.
First, the National Netball League received a major revamp. Then, in October, women’s cricket received a major boost as the NSW Breakers became the first fully professional domestic women’s sporting outfit in Australia.
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