AFLW players set to share in six-figure finals prize pool, wage rises for 2019

AFL Women’s players will have a greater incentive to get their teams into the finals, with a six-figure prize pool announced as part of a new pay deal that will also see wages increase next season.

AFLW stars are set for a pay rise next season. Picture: Mark Stewart

AFL Women’s finals players will share in a $127,500 prize pool for the first time as part of a new pay deal that will also see wages increase next season.

The Herald Sun can now confirm the base wage for players in the expanded competition will be $13,400 (up from $10,500) while the top players in the four-tier payment system will earn around $24,600 (up from $20,000).

AFLW FIXTURE: BLUES-PIES OPENER DITCHED

DOUBLE: HOW AFLW STARS MAKE ENDS MEET

Players also have the capacity to earn further income from ambassador roles with a total of $100,000 put forward for the game's biggest names.

The one-year Collective Bargaining Agreement has been confirmed by the AFL and AFL Players' Association with total player payments totalling $4.748 million, an increase of 38 per cent per club on 2018.

AFLW stars are set for a pay rise next season. Picture: Mark Stewart

The players will also receive education and training grants as part of the collective bargaining agreement and also share in the AFL Players Association’s injury and hardship fund.

The AFLW pre-season is set to start earlier, on November 14, with players still limited to training 13 hours per week during that period and 10 hours in-season.

The base wage will be parity with the minimum male wage pro rata while a relocation allowance has been approved for players who live further than 100km away from their AFLW team.

While the new CBA is for the 2019 AFLW season only, the AFL and the AFLPA have reached agreement on key financial matters through to the end of the 2022 season.

AFL head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone said the agreement was a strong step forward for the women's game.

“The first CBA for female footballers is a significant milestone in the evolution of AFLW,” she said.

“On the eve of our third year of competition, we are proud of AFLW enabling more opportunity for more female players with 300 players joining high performance environments in 2019.

“Investment in player wellbeing and development is vitally important due to the current part time nature of AFLW, to further support our players to grow both as players and individuals.”