AFL players association says it wants pay increases for men’s and women’s players
The AFL players union has hit back at ‘inaccurate’ reports that the league’s male stars could face pay cuts to fund the growing women’s competition.
AFL
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THE AFL players union has rubbished reports men could be forced to forfeit future earnings to AFLW players.
It was reported male footballers could have to compensate their female counterparts if the AFL is unable a secure “significant increase” in TV rights money in its next broadcast agreement.
AFL Players Association boss Paul Marsh hit out at “inaccurate” and “hypothetical detail” in the report.
Marsh confirmed the AFLPA was open to bringing the men’s and women’s CBAs together, but added “this is not about the men taking a hit for the women”.
The AFL’s 850 male players are paid a fixed 28 per cent of the league’s total revenues, leaving 73 per cent for all other expenses including the women’s competition.
“We have got two groups of members here who expect us to continually take them forward every time we negotiate a new deal,” Marsh said.
The players union boss said any suggestion that AFL and AFLW were being played off against each other was “the complete opposite of what we’re trying to achieve”.
The AFL’s current broadcast deal is worth a record $2.508 billion and expires in 2022.
Marsh said the entire AFL industry would suffer if TV revenue dropped in the next agreement, but remains confident the league can increase its profits.
“If it goes backwards we all suffer. We have to accept that’s what comes with partnership. On the flip side, we want to keep driving it forward and we’ll do that,” he said.
Marsh, who is about halfway through a round of club visits, said negotiations on the next CBA were in the early stages.
“The first point is, the AFL will be doing its best and I think we need to trust them that they, based on their track record, that they’ll actually increase the broadcast rights,” he said on SEN.
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“But if they can’t achieve that, and that’s a big if, then the whole industry is going to suffer from that. It’s not just about the players.
“This will actually have an impact on clubs etc. It’s a hypothetical.
“We have got confidence in the AFL continuing to drive the value of the right sport as they have always done.”
The PA was in dispute with its some of its female members late last year over a new CBA which was eventually agreed.