PERTH, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 12: Darcy Vescio of the Blues celebrates a goal during the round six AFLW match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Carlton Blues at Fremantle Oval on February 12, 2022 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

AFLW players right across the course of the soon-to-be 18-team competition are reportedly set to earn a seismic rise in pay for their services across the upcoming season after a fresh collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was inked on Thursday.

While the length of the seventh season of the women's league will remain at 10 home and away fixtures for each club, the pay packets of each athlete are set to increase.

The previously set three-week finals series has also been expanded to become a month-long set of fixtures, with a top-eight rather than a final six also set to be implemented.

According to reports from The Age, players and administrators have signed a one-year pay agreement - with the former in line to earn within the vicinity of a 90 per cent pay increase.

With the competition operating with a four-band payment scheme, players earning the league minimum last season can expect to see their seasonal cheque increase from $20,239 to $39,184.

Players within the third band will see theirs jump from under $25,000 to $47,372, those in the second from below $29,000 to $55,559 and the marquee players on each list seeing a spike from $37,155 to a fee within the ballpark of $71,935.

Each club within the competition has the ability to sign and pay two players within these top pair of tiers.

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While this significant rise in remuneration is sure to be welcomed by those who have hit the ground running across past summers, the agreement will only last for a single season - with the playing body and league administrators unable to agree upon the optimal length of each season beyond the upcoming August campaign.

It has been said that the players already inked to agreements with their respective clubs remain adamant that due to the consistent influx of expansion teams, a 10-week regular season is not long enough.

It has also been delineated by Jake Niall of The Age that those charged with negotiating the standpoint of those at AFL House were ushered into these financial increases due to both their decision to implement an expedited season and their inability to provide a specific starting date prior to this week.

As announced by league executives at Marvel Stadium on Thursday, the AFLW's seventh season is set to commence on the last weekend of August this year - Thursday 25 until Sunday 28.

Speaking in the wake of the done deal, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan stated that the new agreement would allow for clarity rather than ambiguity for each listed player.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 28: AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan speaks to the media during a press conference at Marvel Stadium on February 28, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“We appreciate everyone’s patience, especially the players and clubs over the last few weeks, and that patience has resulted in a great agreement for both the players and the broader industry," McLachlan said.

The league boss went on to outline exactly how the competition would continue its meteoric growth throughout a multitude of avenues.

“The agreement represents a landmark improvement in pay for AFLW players and an historic level of investment in domestic women’s sport that truly values the contribution of our players and is a giant step forward in achieving our vision of ensuring AFLW players are the best paid female athletes in any local professional competition by 2030," he added.

“As well as providing the best possible outcome for AFLW players, the responsibility of the AFL and the wider football industry is to recognise that we all need to balance the needs of all parts of the football community.

“Ensuring we can continue to invest in pathways for women and girls so that all facilities at community level provide gender-friendly facilities that are welcoming, continue to encourage and support women and girls being involved in football and investing in policies and programs that deliver a safe and welcoming environment for all people at all levels of our game."


The veteran administrator signed off by reiterating how the league's newest CBA would have a flow-on effect for those yet to lace the boots at the highest level.

“In order to sustain the continued growth of the NAB AFLW competition, we will need to keep investing in the next generation of players, coaches, umpires, administrators, and the next generation of people who will watch, attend, and financially support the growth of football into the future while also continuing to support our 18 clubs to recover from the impact of Covid-19," McLachlan said in finality.

Other key dates for AFLW season seven, as per women.afl

  • AFLW Expansion Signing Period 24 May 2022
  • Sign and Trade Period 31 May 2022
  • NAB AFLW Draft 29 June 2022
  • Pre-season commences 13 June 2022
  • Season Commences, 25-27 August 2022*
  • Finals commences, 4-6 November 2022*
  • NAB AFLW Grand Final, Weekend of 25-27 November 2022*

* Fixtured dates and game times TBC