AFL PLAYERS' Association boss Paul Marsh has set his sights on a "more expansive" collective bargaining agreement for female footballers after negotiating a significant pay rise.
NAB AFL Women's footballers will train more and be paid more as part of a new deal for the 2018 campaign, which has been in the works since the start of the inaugural season.
Total player payments will increase by almost $500,000 to $2,752,000 next year, excluding ambassador contracts and rookie upgrades.
The minimum wage of a senior-listed AFLW footballer climbs from $8500 to $10,500, with tier one players paid $20,000 (up from $17,000) and tier two receiving $14,500 (up from $12,000).
Rookie-listed footballers will be on an $8,500 contract.
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"While we did a two-year deal with the AFL around the player payments, what became obvious was the girls trained a lot more hours than we agreed initially," Marsh said.
"So, the AFL, to their credit, recognised that, readjusted their payment and I think it's a fair deal for this year.
"Obviously, we're now focused on getting through this season and we'll look to do a more expansive, CBA-type deal going into 2019 … like we've done for the men (this year).
"I think things potentially change into 2019, in terms of the AFL's commercial model. There's potentially television rights (and) greater sponsorship, so everything's up for grabs again after this year, but for 2018 it's locked in."
Marquee player status is also gone, with clubs instead free to award two or more ambassador contracts worth between $5,000 and $10,000 to any listed player, with a team cap of $40,000.
Players will train an average of 13 hours per week and no more than 15 in the pre-season – up from the contracted nine hours in the inaugural season – then 10 hours a week across the actual season.
All programs will still require AFL/AFLPA approval.
New AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said it was "really pleasing" for AFLW players to be in a stronger financial position.
"It's still the start-up phase that we're in, but it's excellent that there's been that type of increase for them," Hocking said.
"The AFL came up with a model and the AFLPA approved it, so it was fairly easy to work through.
"There's obviously a lot of growth still to go with it … so from here it's really about just building a sustainable model – that's really important for the competition – and that's something we'll continue to work through."
Hocking said the AFL hoped for an improved product in season two, with an emphasis on "really good, open football" and "attacking play", but was prepared for more challenges.
"Year two is always difficult," he said.
"But if you have a look at the way the community's embraced it and also where it's been placed in the competition (schedule), the women have really got an opportunity to own it."
Clubs start pre-season on November 20, with Carlton and Collingwood starting the AFLW season for the second straight year at Ikon Park on Friday, February 3.
The 240 players signed a 24-week contract that also includes:
- Medical expenses being covered for 12 months post contract
- Appropriate relocation expenses
- An $80 travel allowance for each night away from home
- Income protection for 12 months if unable to work because of injury
- Pregnancy and early childcare policy
- Football boots and runners provided
