As a group of breakaway AFLW players consults lawyers over the collective bargaining agreement, Crows vice-captain Courtney Cramey publicly backs it

AFLW players have until 5pm today to vote on the controversial collective bargaining agreement that will be in place for the next three seasons. And the Crows vice-captain Courtney is among those backing it.

Crows vice-captain Courtney Cramey kicks under pressure during the AFLW Grand Final match between Adelaide and Carlton at Adelaide Oval on March 31, 2019. Picture: MARK BRAKE/GETTY IMAGES

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Crows AFLW vice-captain Courtney Cramey — also the team’s delegate on the AFL Players’ Association — has thrown her support behind the controversial AFL Women’s collective bargaining agreement.

Players have until 5pm today to vote on the agreement, which has reportedly divided the league with one group pushing for a 13-week season, plus finals, as the competition prepares to increase to 14 teams in 2020.

The renegotiated CBA will see the competition increase to 10 games plus finals by 2022.

The deal encompasses the next three AFLW seasons and needs 75 per cent of players to vote yes to pass.

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Courtney Cramey, centre, warms up before a game during the 2019 season. Picture: SARAH REED

It was reported earlier this week that a breakaway block of AFLW players had engaged a law firm to assist in negotiations, while the AFLPA fired back saying the group could have a “potential negative impact “ on the fledgling women’s competition.

But Cramey — a stalwart of women’s football in SA — publicly supported the CBA on her Twitter account overnight.

“Excited to get cracking for season 2020,” the two-time AFLW premiership winner wrote.

“I support the deal and the AFL Players (Association).

“This CBA has been consulted and negotiated and I consider it fair and equitable despite others reports.

“The phenomenon of AFLW is here to stay and this deal creates a sustainable platform for the future (generations).”

Excited to get cracking for season 2020. I support the deal & the @AFLPlayers This CBA has been consulted & negotiated & I consider it fair & equitable despite others reports! The phenomenon of AFLW is here to stay & this deal creates a sustainable platform for the future gens! https://t.co/hUOGvPhyQE

— Courtney Cramey (@cjcmedway) October 3, 2019

Cramey’s tweet was “liked” by a number of fellow AFLW players including teammates Erin Phillips and Sarah Allen, Collingwood’s Stephanie Chiocci, Western Bulldogs’ Ellie Blackburn and Brisbane’s Sharni Webb and Lauren Arnell.

Cramey’s view has also been backed by star midfielder Daisy Pearce, who told Melbourne radio this morning that while the CBA wasn’t “absolute utopia”, she was in favour of giving it the tick.

“The collective view at the end of these forums that we’ve had and the ample opportunities that we’ve had to discuss what we think as players is important in this deal … coming out of all those meetings, the collective view has been to keep moving forward and that most people are happy to sign,” she said on SEN.

“There are a number of players that aren’t happy with everything within it but the bit that I challenge is that we haven’t had an opportunity to have our views heard, because I see that there’s a big difference between putting your opinion out there and being heard and getting absolutely everything you want.

Melbourne midfielder Daisy Pearce in action during the 2018 AFLW season. Picture: ADAM TRAFFORD/AFL MEDIA/GETTY IMAGES

“Yes, this deal isn’t the absolute utopia and it doesn’t have everything I could have hoped and dreamed of as a football player within it in terms of season length and salaries … but is it fair and reasonable and does it set the competition up for a sustainable period of growth over the next few years and laid a great foundation for the future of this competition? I feel like it does.

“A lot of players feel like it does.”

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Pearce said she wasn’t sure of the exact number of players who were deeply dissatisfied with the presented deal, but said she believed it to be “a lot less than 50”.

The disagreement and differences of opinion are a healthy thing, and not an unusual thing,” she said.

“I guess where it’s frustrating is that the collective view and wanted course of action out of the meetings that we’ve had over the last few weeks has been to push back on a few things in terms of the deal but it has for the most part gotten to a point that we’re all really happy with and ready to move forward on.”

Originally published as As a group of breakaway AFLW players consults lawyers over the collective bargaining agreement, Crows vice-captain Courtney Cramey publicly backs it