A JOINT Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the AFLW and AFL competitions is on the cards as the AFL Players Association and AFL continue negotiations.
An historic joint agreement is "the number one priority right now", according to AFLPA CEO Paul Marsh.
"The AFL Players' Association is currently in the process of negotiating a joint Collective Bargaining Agreement for AFL and AFLW players," Marsh said.
"It's the right time to align the agreements with both CBAs now expired. It is also a significant opportunity for the AFL industry to make a statement about its commitment to the AFLW competition and its ability to also grow the AFL competition and in doing so, entrench its position as the premier sport in the country for all male and female athletes.
"Just prior to Christmas we received much of the financial information we require, and we are currently working through this with player leaders and will finalise our proposal for the AFL shortly. It's important for the certainty of both competitions that the industry works through this as an urgent priority."
The current negotiations follow the recent short-term AFLW CBA that was signed last May to allow season seven to get underway on a shortened timeline, with the season moved to an August start. That deal resulted in a 94 per cent pay rise on average across the playing group.
A key sticking point of last year's negotiations regarded the season length, with the playing group focused on a pathway toward a full 17-round competition. The AFLPA wants to have a fully professional competition by 2026.
LIBBY BIRCH Come on, boys. Join the push for a historic joint CBA
The most recent men's CBA, which has stood since 2017, expired last year, making this the first time both competitions' Agreements are under negotiation.
"We did, I think, a landmark female players deal last year," AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said in December.
"I know Paul (Marsh) has talked about an integrated CBA going forward so there is an opportunity to do that. The way they're going to line up and how that fits in and how they might do that is something that still needs to be discussed. We'll see where we land."
Should the joint agreement go ahead, it would follow the joint CBA signed by men's and women's cricketers with Cricket Australia in 2017.
Dates for the upcoming AFLW trade and sign period, the draft and season eight of the competition are yet to be confirmed and are largely hinging on current discussions.
