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.
TWLS
Guest
Also another point on the Women players -They are able to accept individual sponsorships from businesses. Two of the players are very happy already driving around in their Hyundai Cars. Another point - 18 clubs x 25 player squads -450 players that will earn at least 2017 wages. The West Coast Eagles have been told you will have to wait until 2019 to gain entry, which suits them because their 60 million new facility will not be ready until 2018.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Some great pictures of the new jumpers on the back pages of the major dailies.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I thought the jumbuck was the sheep?
Slane
Guest
Ironic that 'I hate pies' is telling a room full of men who are excited to watch women's football that there are no men who are excited to watch womens football.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Aussie rules players have been paid in all leagues for yonks,
Pope Paul VII
Guest
A sheep.
Penster
Guest
"Men won’t watch something that they can do better." should read "I won't watch something I can do better". You don't speak on behalf of all men and have no understanding of media ratings. And the rating and business cases speak differently. Face it I hate pies, you're bothered that females are kicking it in a male domain without "doing their time".
I hate pies
Guest
That's bollocks Penster. Men won't watch something that they can do better. Women have successed as professionals in other sports because they are truly exceptional at their sport (eg. golf, tennis), but the women aussie rules players aren't anywhere near that level. This comp is a PR exercise for the AFL; everything is a PR exercise for the AFL.
Amazon
Roar Rookie
your code name, Ummuhh, is very appropriate - no idea!!
Penster
Guest
Men and women are physically different, you can't compare "standards", it's meaningless. The womens comp has to play at a standard better than the level the WOman plays on the street, not man. If the AFL is paying them $X then the AFL thinks they're worth it. It'll get better, salaries will increase. The AFL has done a pretty comprehensive study on this comp and already it's gaining traction with sponsorship and involvement - you're putting the mozz on it before it's even started!
Ummuhh
Guest
Yep. The AFL is only interested in advancing its own brand, not womens sport or equality. We will see this when the AFL loving media starts picking on other womens sports and saying that AFL is doing a much better job than them.
I hate pies
Guest
The standard needs to be better than the level the man on the street plays at, just like any other professional sport. People are attracted to professional sport because they're watching the best of the best; they want to watch people do things that they can't. If the women footballers can't do that the league will attract very little interest. I understand the pure meaning of the term "professional", but there's more to it than just being paid. You have to be worth what you're paid or it's not sustainable, just like any other profession.
mds1970
Roar Guru
It's a modest beginning for the new league, just 7 rounds plus the Grand Final and all over by the end of March. At this stage, no-one really knows how it's going to work and how successful it will be. The player payments reflect this; and should the AFLW comp be successful the payments will no doubt increase substantially to reflect this. But I do think they should do better with the insurance situation. That's a worry.
Penster
Roar Guru
Mo Hope you top chick, go you good thing.
Penster
Roar Guru
Compared to what? They're the only womens AFL comp, probably in the world. Whatever the "standard", that's the benchmark. If they're paid, with boots and income protection, the standard will increase quickly. That's what happens when you take something seriously and resource it properly. Some of the female footy players coming up through the ranks I watch here in NSW are very very exciting, and these girls can start considering it as a potential career/ part-career.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
In summary, 218 contracted women (across 8 clubs) will share in total salaries of $2.275 million (ave salary of $10,435 per player) rising to $2.454 in 2018. Netball has 80 players sharing a salary pool of almost $5.5 million, making the new national Netball comp a clear market leader at an average salary of around $68,750. Cricket has almost doubled its salary pool from $2.36 million to $4.23 million, with those in the national team earning as much as $80k per annum. The W-League salary cap has remained at $150,000 since inception, and at least half the clubs fail to pay the full cap. Those who make the Matilda's squad can earn a fair bit more.
alicesprings
Guest
http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-victoria-releases-control-of-local-womens-leagues-will-create-more-football-jobs/news-story/7249a63e5fbf51676069c5bb9d7381dd This article is a good read, all be it from a Victorian perspective. 2013 = 32 teams 2017 = 150 teams Up here in the NT Womens footy is going gangbusters, probably to be expected as we have the highest participation of Aussie Rules. Not sure how many teams will have in Alice next year but theres talk of another two teams being fielded.
db swannie
Guest
Lol fastest growing sport . & where did you get the 200 new teams from .
northerner
Guest
Yes, but so is the standard of the Australian cricket team, and they still get paid big bucks.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
The contract are set for over a 24 week period. For marquees it won't be too bad as a part time job. I guess. I will applaud them for the income protection measure. That's very prudent thinking. Regarding women sport. It's about time. Back in 2013 I was watching the Womens Rugby World Cup and was just blown away with the quality of play. It was so good it was attracting strong crowds and large TV audiences in France where it was being held. This is when it really solidified in my mind that female athletes deserved so, so much more than being ,erely a sideshow. Hopefully, we are witnessing an awakening of not only the importance of women within sporting org. but in the general public in regards to their value as a valid source of entertainment.