EDFL: Burnside Heights to pay women’s footballers

An EDFL club has announced it will pay its senior women in 2022 as the competition prepares to trial a new salary cap system across its three divisions.

Burnside Heights will pay its senior women’s footballers for the first time in 2022.

On Tuesday, the Bears announced it was taking part in a new salary cap trial which has been implemented in the Essendon District league.

Similar to those in the men’s competition, all grades have been handed a different salary cap.

Premier division clubs will be able to spend $8000 on players while those in Division 1 and 2 will be able to spend up to $6500 and $5000 respectively.

Previously, if players had been paid the money would have included in the club’s cap.

Burnside Heights president Justin Peagram said the introduction of a salary cap was a “way to reward players for their loyalty to the club”.

“Paying our senior women is something we’ve wanted to do for a while,” he said on Thursday.

“We’ve raised the idea of a salary cap in the past couple of years and to now see it in place is a terrific addition to our competition.

“If we’re able to give a little bit back to our players, whether it is helping with registrations fees or new gear, it’s going to make a massive difference for them.”

Essendon District league chief executive Ian Kyte said competition officials thought it was a “good time to introduce the trial”.

“It’s not compulsory for clubs to take part and everyone will do it differently if they do,” he said.

“I think other competitions will be looking on with interest to see whether it helps with the retention of players.

“It deserves these footballers the recognition they deserve and shows we are serious about continuing to develop our competition.”

For the Bears, Peagram said the club currently had a “healthy” playing list of about 30 players ahead of the new season.

“We’ve been fortunate to retain most of our players over the past few years,” he said.

“It has certainly been difficult with all of the Covid interruptions in the past two years as well. It’s fantastic we now have something in place to be able to reward them for their loyalty.”

Burnside Heights will open their Premier Division season against Maribyrnong Park 1 on April 2.