Players in the AFLW have just received significant pay rise, with a new collective bargaining agreement that will see their salaries increase by 94 per cent.
The new pay deal will ensure the average player salary nearly doubles, with the best paid players in the competition receiving $71,935, up from $37,155.
Tier 2 players will receive $55,559 up from $28,697, Tier 3 players will receive $47,372 up from $24,468, while Tier 4 players – the lowest paid group – will receive $39,184, up from $20,239. All of these wage increases are a rise of 94 per cent.
It has also been decided that the seventh AFLW season will begin on the last weekend of August 2022, and four new teams – Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans – will take part in the competition.
AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said the new collective bargaining agreement provides certainty for players and clubs.
“The agreement represents a landmark improvement in pay for AFLW players and an historic level of investment in domestic women’s sport that truly values the contribution of our players and is a giant step forward in achieving our vision of ensuring AFLW players are the best paid female athletes in any local professional competition by 2030,” McLachlan said.
“As well as providing the best possible outcome for AFLW players, the responsibility of the AFL and the wider football industry is to recognise that we all need to balance the needs of all parts of the football community.
“Ensuring we can continue to invest in pathways for women and girls so that all facilities at community level provide gender-friendly facilities that are welcoming, continue to encourage and support women and girls being involved in football and investing in policies and programs that deliver a safe and welcoming environment for all people at all levels of our game.”
Under the new collective bargaining agreement, more than 40 of the top players will be paid more than $100,000 when TPP, ASAs and other allowable payments are taken into account.
Total player payments, including base salary and prize money, will be $25.6 million in 2022, up from $10.4 million last year.
The inclusion of the four new clubs in the AFLW will see the total number of players increase from 420 to 540.
The AFL says it is the biggest employer of female athletes in the country.
Life changes for so many AFLW players today.
I’m so happy – couldn’t sleep last night from excitement. It’s a significant step forward.
Thank you to @AFLPlayers team and all the players involved in negotiations. Looking forward to @aflwomens szn 7.— Darcy Vescio (@darcyvee) May 19, 2022
“This agreement is the first step toward our vision of AFLW players being full time footballers by 2026. Our players love the game and are driven to succeed. This CBA acknowledges the important role the AFLW players have and instils great confidence in the future direction of the competition,” said AFLPA Chief Executive Paul Marsh.
AFLW star Tayla Harris is the latest guest on our podcast, Moments That Make Us. Check it out here.