WOMEN playing in the NAB AFL Women's League will be paid a minimum $8500 in the first two seasons of the new competition as well as a range of extras relating to travel, gear and insurance.
A pay deal was announced on Thursday after months of negotiations between the AFL and the Players' Association that saw a lift in the League's initial offer of a minimum wage of $5000.
Under a pay deal struck for 2017, marquee players will receive a financial package of $27,000 (inclusive of $10,000 for their marketing and ambassadorial roles), the priority players $12,000, and the remaining listed players $8,500 for the seven-match (plus Grand Final) season.
Players will have to pay for private health insurance costs but the new package will see the AFL cover:
- costs for football boots and runners
- a travel allowance when playing interstate
- income protection insurance
- out-of-pocket medical expenses for 52 weeks post-contract
- carers allowance for players travelling interstate who have a child under 12 months old.
The two-year agreement will see the packages increase in the second season in all categories with the minimum payment being $9,726, while priority players will receive $12,486 and marquee players $27,946.
Players Association CEO Paul Marsh said the AFLPA wanted parity between the women's minimum wage and the men's rookie salary on a pro-rata basis.
"The AFLPA and players’ guiding principle throughout the negotiations with the AFL was achieving an outcome of equality between our female and male players," Marsh said.
"The players overwhelmingly voted in favour of accepting these payment terms and look forward to working in partnership with the AFL and clubs to make the AFL Women’s Competition the success we all know it will be."
AFL game development boss Simon Lethlean said the length and format of the first women's season was designed so players could return to community and state-league level.
"We have to build this competition from the ground up and part of that means that we have to invest in a new, un-tested national league, while being careful not to decimate the state and regional women’s football leagues.
"Keeping the foundations of women’s football strong is essential for the game to grow."
Women’s players will be at their club for nine hours per week during the pre-season training block of eight weeks and nine hours plus match-days during the eight-week season.
The players will also complete 20 hours of appearances under this agreement.
