An AFL spokesman says it is "fair and equitable" to pay players in the inaugural national women's league $5000 for the entire season, as the players' union says salaries are still the subject of negotiation.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The AFL, not the clubs, will pay the players in the new women's league, which kicks off its first eight or nine-week season in February next year.
Each participating team has chosen two "marquee" players who will be involved in promoting the game and they will be paid $25,000.
A handful of high draft picks at each club will be paid about $10,000, as well the one priority pre-signing allowed at each Victorian club.
But AFL plans to make $5000 the minimum payment for all other players.
Male AFL players earned an average of $300,000 last year and four made more than $1 million.
The AFL's general manager of game and market development, Simon Lethlean, said the AFL wanted to ensure the women's game was a success and would be investing tens of millions of dollars into a new league "over the coming years", as well as putting money towards talent programs for girls and women.
"Our intention is to pay players between $25,000 (marquee players) and $5,000, and we believe this is a fair and reasonable amount in the first year of building an elite competition from amateur leagues, and for a short season of up to nine weeks."
"We are also highly focused on providing employment opportunities for players with the AFL, clubs, state bodies, and partners of the AFL."
Lethlean said players from the community level through to the AFL are covered by a national insurance scheme.
"We also recommend that in addition, players have their own health insurance," he said.
"Individuals paying their own health insurance is common practice across other sports, as is the case with male AFL players."
The AFL Players' Association, which is representing the women, said the standard player contracts were still being negotiated.
Sport fans and women's sport advocates have used social media to express their disappointment at the proposal.
The AFL giving women a "salary" pic.twitter.com/UtoMmQdP2D— jocelyn pies (@jocelynseip) August 31, 2016
AFL rookies earn more than they'd be worth in revenue terms because of collective bargained workplace solidarity. Needs to extend to women.— arwon (@arwon) August 31, 2016
The AFL: we want to poach elite sports women from other codes
The AFL: we will do this by giving you $5000 and no health insurance— gay holly (@holfordandsons) August 31, 2016
