The first collective bargaining agreement to cover both AFL and AFLW players has been finalised, with a five-year deal that will see an immediate 29 per cent pay rise for female players.
The five-year deal, covering both the men’s and women’s leagues, is worth $2.2 billion.
Under the deal, the average pay for AFLW players will immediately increase from $46,000 to $60,000 in 2023, then up to $82,000 by 2027.
The AFL estimates the deal will see more than 90 of the “top” AFLW players paid more than $100,000 for the 2023 season. Last season, only 40 players received a salary at this level.
Male players will also receive an immediate wage increase, up 10 per cent, and by 2027, the average AFL men’s salary will be $519,000, up from last year’s $387,000.
In another positive step for women’s competition, AFLW players will receive 12-month contracts and the ability to sign contracts over multiple years. This brings the competition into line with standard practice in the men’s AFL competition.
A 12-month pregnancy policy will also be implemented for players, commencing from six weeks before a player’s due date. This policy will be effective immediately. Player relocation and travel benefits will also now be equitable for both AFL and AFLW players who relocate states.
Another major component of the collective bargaining agreement is the length of the AFLW season, which will now increase to 12 home and away rounds by 2025. Any further expansion to 14 rounds is dependent on key audience metrics achieved by the women’s competition. According to a statement by the players’ union and the AFL, these metrics will be modelled off metrics achieved in the Season Two of the AFLW, which saw on average 6,000 fans a game and 100,000 broadcast viewers. There is an agreement to build out an accelerated marketing plan to greater support the AFLW in achieving these metrics.
“Our AFLW players receive another immediate boost after an historic 94 per cent increase last season, and the opportunity is ahead of the competition to continue to grow in length if we can reach some key support metrics that have been achieved before,” AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said in a statement.
“Together we will focus on expanding crowds and TV audience for the women’s competition while working to engage more women and girls to take up football.”
AFLPA CEO, Paul Marsh recognised this CBA as “historic” for players.
“We believed this deal provided an opportunity for the AFL industry to significantly advance the AFLW competition, lead the way in respect to the support provided to past and present players, continue to improve the health and safety of players and work more proactively and collaboratively in areas relating to gender and race. This deal achieves all of these objectives,” Marsh said.
“The players have overwhelmingly voted in support of this CBA and we believe this is a deal that speaks strongly to how highly the industry values their contribution.”