The AFL Players’ Association and the AFL have reached agreement on key matters to be included CBA.

“The first CBA for female footballers is a significant milestone in the evolution of AFLW,” AFL Head of Women’s Football Nicole Livingstone said.

“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.”

Under the agreement, player payments for 2019 across the 10 clubs will total $4.748 million, which is an increase of 38 percent from last season.

This also allows for better structuring around player payment levels with the minimum rising by 27.6 percent to meet with the minimum male footballer payment (on a pro rata basis).

Another first will be that the final four team will share the prize money and players will have the opportunity to earn additional income to promote the game through a new AFL ambassador fund.

“The players voted overwhelmingly to approve this deal because it recognises the significant time and energy they are investing to improve the standards of the AFLW competition but also gives the industry flexibility to continue to evolve the game,” AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh said.

“Players continue to juggle their football responsibilities, with full or part-time jobs, study and family life and this deal will help shape an environment where they can thrive.

“Gender equality continues to be a driver for our organisation and we’re proud to have achieved that by tying the minimum wage to that of the minimum wage for male footballers until 2022,” he said.

 

Highlights of the 2019 AFLW Collective Bargaining Agreement:

  • Player payments will total $4.748 million in 2019, with players paid according to four-tiered system: Tier 1– $24,600, Tier 2 - $19,000, Tier 3  - $16,200 and Tier 4  - $13,400
  • The introduction of prize money for the top four teams, with players to share in a pool of $127,500
  • The development of an AFL Ambassador fund totaling $100,000 per year for four years
  • $335,000 has been committed to support AFLW players with Education and Training Grants and Wellbeing Support.
  • Funding and access for AFLW players to the AFL Players’ Injury and Hardship Fund
  • Minimum medical standards, introduction of Hawkeye technology to assist injury diagnosis at all AFL venues and football injury expenses covered for 18 months post contract
  • Relocation allowance for players who live further than 100kms away from their AFLW team