Salaries

Just days after creating AFL history being a key contributor to the Saints 47 point comeback against the Demons at the MCG, St Kilda rising star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has again made history by becoming the games first $2m player in a major signing deal as he decides too stay with the Saints. 

Despite things major new breakthrough milestone of the AFL's development and history, the AFLW community are furious as fans demand that their role models need to be paid the same salary through a new campaign "same game, same pay". 

Players, coaches and officials get their first taste of the "paid to play" system often at their local club during their years within senior teams. However, despite both male and female participants playing and officiating the same game, payments often differ significantly, with some female players not even getting paid at all. 

Local level payments are only available within senior teams, with the average payments varying due to the clubs wealth and financial stability, this is often heavily influenced by the clubs location (metro vs country). Metro clubs often have a higher financial stability, which country participants claim needs to be changed and shared out amongst their clubs to create fairer opportunities. 

Often for senior male players, they are paid after each game, however their salaries differ significantly from the bigger leagues, with most players only being paid around $50-$100 per game and again, this is influenced by the location and financial stability of a club that decides if every player is paid and the amount that they are paid. 

However the Female participants are severly left behind, with player salaries being between $30-$75 per game depending on the club. It is not uncommon for only a handful of players per team to be paid to play, with many players furious over allegations the game is "unfair and exclusive" as stated by Ex Mount Gambier AFLW legend Alice Tentye as she reflects on her time at a local club. 

As the preparation stage of a building AFL or AFLW career, State level football is often where Salaries start to ramp up as they prepare players, coaches and official for the big league. However Many believe that this is where the real gender inequality starts and that these clubs are a "reflection of the AFL and AFLW's bad habits" as Stated by Glenelg FC veteran Samantha Franson. 

State level clubs are officially ran under the AFL and AFLW as they provide pathways and opportunity into the national competition, meaning that they way they operate is very similar. VFL an VFLW clubs are paid through the clubs salary cap that is given to the club each year that are split into match payments. Standalone Salary caps for VFLW clubs at a standalone club is an average of $40,000, however AFLW aligned clubs have a cap of $30,000, with players being able to receive travel and finals bonuses.  The mens club salary caps start at what the public believes is a " ridiculous and outrageous" amount compared to the womens, with most clibs given a salary cap between $325,000- $355,000 a year, a significant difference compare to the womens. Individual earnings in the SANFL mens competition is where the public fury comes from as often, players can be paid the equivalent to the entire salary cap of a women's club. Typical salaries for SANFL players start at $5000 a season, with selected "marquee" players being paid up to $25,000-$30,000 a season. Glenelg AFLW legend Sam Franson believes that this is an aspect that "needs to be fixed ASAP in order to keep the game alive for our younger generations" with many standing by her in this statement.

Umpire payments typically remain the same for both genders, however is also a huge difference compared to the national competition, with payments typically being $76-$224 per game. 

The AFL and AFLW is where the real problem lies, with salaries differing at their largest point and is the originating place for the "bad habits" that many have accused against the league.

Salary caps are responsible for the difference in payments, although according to GWS GIANTS finance manager, there are no requirements for a player to be paid and that " all players are paid to play per their individual contracted amounts and any other incentives they may be entitled to.". At a national level, the AFLW salaries are organised by the tier system with additional soft caps. Current Salaries for AFLW through this system include: Tier 1 (2 players): Approximately $109,760, Tier 2 (6 players): Approximately $89,559 , Tier 3 (6 players): Approximately $76,091, Tier 4 (16 players): Approximately $67,337. All other players under this number earn approximately $46,000, a major difference compared to the men. 

GWS GIANTS finance manager stated that "the minimum payment that a male player will be paid a year is $80,000", the equivalent to one of the top payments that a female player can earn.  Even though " the same incentives and bonus structures can also apply to female players as it does the men’s. The main driver in the different amounts paid to players pertains to the Salary Cap for AFL and AFLW. Currently the men’s competition has a higher salary cap, driven by the longer season played by men, as well as the ability for earning increased revenue in the men’s game that exists presently" giving the public a reason for the differences in player salaries, however many still say that this excuse isn't enough and needs to be fixed to become more equal. 

At a national level, umpires are typically paid between $40,000-$150,000 a season, depending on their positioning on the field and the games that they umpire, for example a primary AFLW umpire will typically earn between $40,000-$70,000 a year with the mens umpires earning the higher amounts. 

Differences in Salaries are also present within the coaches, AFLW coaches are typically paid between $120,000- $150,000 a year, whilst the AFL coaches, assistant coaches and development coaches earning anywhere between $120,000-$328,000 a season, this is a major reflection on the gender inequality and exclusion that is often portrayed within the players. 

In recent weeks, the AFL has developed a huge piece of history that relate back to the player salaries, with St Kilda rising star Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera becoming the games first $2m a year player in a re-signing commitment deal with the saints. Although this is a huge development within the AFL and really highlights the growth of the finances involved within the game, the AFLW community are furious. 

Nasiah's recent deal is the highest in AFL history, however from a public perspective, many believe that this is a prime example of the gender inequality that is present within the salaries. The public eye are furious over how the majority of money brought into the industry is pointed straight towards the men to boost their salaries to life changing lengths, however the women are still being left behind and forced to also have a second job to be able to support the  current cost of living, this is not very common in the mens side. 

The "same game, same pay" campaign is an ongoing wake up call directed towards the AFL through the passion and purpose to create equal opportunities for our female players and to eliminate gender inequality within the money in these industries. Although the campaign "same game, same pay" was founded before Nasiah's re-signing, the AFLW community are coming together more than ever in hopes for their voices to finally be heard about the significance in how much their favourite players are paid. Many also believe that " by making the salaries equal for all, this will help promote and save the future of the women's game" which is now a vital point of concern pointed towards the AFL to make change.