The AFL and AFL Players Association have today announced a new Collective Bargaining Agreement which will see average player salaries increasing 94 per cent across the board.

This new pay deal ensures all 540 players across 18 clubs will have an increased average salary of 94 per cent, from $23,904 to $46,280 in season seven.

The AFL and AFLPA have also announced fixturing of 10 home and away games with four finals rounds (one additional final than season six).

The first round of the NAB AFLW season will begin on the final weekend of August 2022 in the AFL pre-finals bye, while introducing four new teams in Essendon, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and Sydney.

List sizes for AFLW teams will be maintained at 30, while player contracts will run from 15 May 2022 to 31 December 2022.

Under the revised CBA, it is estimated more than 40 of the top AFLW players will be paid over $100,000 in season seven, inclusive of TPP, ASAs and other allowable payments.

AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan said today’s announcement provides certainty for players and clubs and continues the trajectory of sustained growth for the league and women’s football across the country.
 
“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.” Mr McLachlan said.
 
“Our NAB AFLW Competition has accelerated the growth of women’s football across the country, and we are entering a new, exciting phase with all 18 clubs and our focus is now on continuing to support, nurture and amplify our competition at every opportunity,”
 
“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.
 
“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.
 
“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.
 
“For today - We have a new CBA; a new start date and our focus moves to ensuring everyone is ready to go for Season Seven in August.” 
 
AFLPA Chief Executive Paul Marsh lauded the agreement as a major step forward for the players and the future of the AFLW. 
 
“Today is a significant and exciting day for AFLW players and for those who are aspiring to be future AFLW players,” AFLPA Chief Executive Paul Marsh said.
 
“This agreement is the first step toward our vision of AFLW players being full time footballers by 2026. Our players love the game and are driven to succeed. This CBA acknowledges the important role the AFLW players have and instils great confidence in the future direction of the competition.
 
“Congratulations to the AFL for showing their belief in this competition and its players.  This agreement makes a huge statement as to the AFL’s intent to make AFLW the sport of choice for female athletes.
 
“Through this process, the players have been united in their vision of what is important for the future. There has been a high level of engagement, which speaks to how much the players care about AFLW and its long-term position on the sporting landscape.  I want to thank all of the players for their involvement, and in particular the players on our negotiating committee as well as our Captains and Delegates.
 
“The players are thrilled with this CBA and the outcome speaks to the belief we all have in the future of AFLW.”

Key dates for AFLW season 7

• 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