Lions AFLW coach thrilled to have kept star-studded team together

The chance to play for an AFLW premiership powerhouse has helped the Brisbane Lions retain most of their squad.

Brisbane Lions women’s coach Craig Starcevich admits to feeling “guilty” about being able to keep the bulk of his squad together in the face of AFLW players having their pay almost doubled for the new season starting this month.

The minimum AFL wage has increased from $20,239 to $39,184, while top-tier players will be paid $71,935.

It’s part of an average increase across the competition’s four pay brackets of 94 per cent.

With the AFLW expanding to 18 teams this year, there were fears competition powerhouse Brisbane could lose a host of stars potentially lured by the likelihood of more money at other clubs.

However, Starcevich said he had been “pleasantly surprised” to be able to retain almost of his players from last season.

“Three years ago we got demolished in the first round of expansion, but this time around we’ve been able to retain 28,” Starcevich said.

“The three who we had to let go have all ended up on lists as well, so … we’re reasonably proud of that.

“Keeping 28 puts us in a really nice position coming into this (season).”

AFLW best and fairest award winner Emily Bates is set for a new season with the Brisbane Lions. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Starcevich praised the financial sacrifices several of his players – including last season’s AFLW best and fairest winner, Emily Bates – made to remain with Brisbane rather than head for more lucrative contracts elsewhere.

“There were elements of relief … and then this wave of guilt washed over me as well, with whatever way of keeping the group together, have we denied these people the opportunity of earning way more than what we’ve able to pay them?

“But we think, in footy economics terms, if you hang around us for long enough, you’ll be rewarded in the long term because you’ll be on a strong team, you’ll gradually creep up the pay scale as some of our older players retire and so forth, so that’s basically what we presented to them.

“It’s made me feel a little bit better about the whole thing because this is tricky.

“You really want to see these girls who have given everything to their sport actually earn what’s been thrown at them, but you also want to stay here and have more success with us.”

The Lions start their new season on August 28 at the Gabba against Fremantle, with tickets for the new season to go on sale on Thursday.

Brisbane’s preparations for the new campaign continue with a trial on Friday against St Kilda in Melbourne.