AFL Women’s competition players seeking pay increase on all levels

PLAYERS are seeking an increase on all pay levels in the AFL Women’s competition under a counter-proposal now sitting with league chiefs.

The AFL Women’s league will begin next year. Picture: Alex Coppel.

PLAYERS are seeking an increase on all pay levels in the AFL Women’s competition under a counter-proposal now sitting with league chiefs.

The AFL Players’ Association rejected the league’s proposal to pay most AFL Women’s players $5000 with priority signings offered $10,000 and 16 marquee players a $15,000 playing contract plus $10,000 marketing component.

While the union signed off on the marketing payment to its marquee players, it is seeking an increase to all playing fees.

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The AFLPA is waiting on a response from the league and both parties would like to have an agreement by the time of the October 12 draft.

The AFL would not comment on the stand-off beyond saying talks were continuing. The AFLPA said it believed a fair outcome with the AFL could be achieved.

AFL Women’s competition marquee players will be paid $25,000 per season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

League game development chief Simon Lethlean has previously defended the pay offer.

“Our intention is to pay players between $25,000 and $5000, and we believe this is a fair and reasonable amount in the first year of building an elite competition from amateur leagues, and for a short season of up to nine weeks,” the Herald Sun reported this month.

“This is just the beginning, and as our game grows we will continue to invest in our athletes that will soon be household names.”

AFLPA chief Paul Marsh this month said “we strongly believe (women) should be provided with the same opportunities to thrive in the game as the men do”.

Netball great Bianca Chatfield in her Herald Sun column on Saturday urged footballers not to accept a low-ball offer.

“If there is a message for our friends about to embark on a career in AFL, we would tell them to start strong,” wrote Chatfield, who helped broker as rich new national netball league pay deal.

The AFL Women’s league will begin next year. Picture: Alex Coppel.

It is expected AFL Women’s players will be subject to the AFL’s Illicit Drugs Policy as well as the match review panel and tribunal, but how it will work in practice is yet to be finalised.

For example, the cost of fines for on field misdemeanours will be tailored for the women’s league as some fines in the men’s competition would potentially take out a quarter of a woman’s salary.

Players will have to comply with the World Anti-Doping Code, with AFL Women’s participants to be briefed at an induction session prior to pre-season training, which will start in November.

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There will be guidelines on pregnancy, with players required to notify their club at a certain time.

Players are expected to be able to determine how long they will keep playing while pregnant, but if they continue after a particular period, it would be at their own risk. These details are yet to be finalised.

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Originally published as AFL Women’s competition players seeking pay increase on all levels