AN ELEVEN-MEMBER advisory committee has been established by the AFL Players' Association to manage the strategic direction of its female footballers ahead of next year's national women's league.
AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh, Melbourne player Lynden Dunn, director of the workplace gender equality agency Libby Lyons, and the chief executive of the Grace Papers organisation, Prue Gilbert, are part of the committee.
The panel also consists of seven female players from across the country: Courtney Cramey, Emma King, Leah Kaslar, Bree White, Tiarna Ernst, Lauren Arnell and Maddy Collier.
The committee will meet regularly to address matters affecting its female players, with a mission to create a fair and supportive environment.
Marsh said the AFL Players' Association would help shape the upcoming competition after 204 female footballers had so far signed up as members of the AFLPA.
"Our women's football advisory committee will continue to provide guidance from a player and gender equality perspective, to ensure the league is a success and that players have strong support structures in place during and post their careers," he said in a statement on Sunday.
Eight AFL clubs – Adelaide, the Brisbane Lions, Carlton, Collingwood, Fremantle, Greater Western Sydney, Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs – were last month granted licences to compete in the inaugural women's league.