Australian Football League players will receive a 20% pay rise this season after agreeing to a new six-year deal with the league worth A$1.84B ($1.39B) that "ties their wages to competition revenue for the first time," according to Stephanie Chalkley-Rhoden of the ABC. The changes will see the average player salary increase from A$309,000 last year to A$371,000 ($281,300) this season. The players will receive 28% of projected AFL revenue, "minus some exclusions." They will "also get an additional share of forecast revenue from the AFL and the clubs." The six-year deal will see players' earnings increased by 20% in '17, 1.2% in '18, 1.3% in '19 and 2% each year from '20-22. Club salary caps will rise from A$10.3M to A$12.4M ($9.4M) next season, "giving some the wiggle room to chase a big name player" in the offseason (ABC, 6/20). In Sydney, Greg Denham reported the Additional Services Agreement -- marketing money paid by clubs to players outside of the salary cap -- will also increase from last year's figure of A$1.01M per club. CBA discussions "have been ongoing for two years with some of the points not agreed on" until Tuesday. Negotiations "were drawn out because of the players' union's insistence on a set percentage of the code's revenue." AFL Chair Richard Goyder said that the agreement "delivered within the investment model established by the commission and was a win for all the key pillars of the league's strategy" -- the players, clubs, fans and the grassroots of the game. Goyder: "This is a great outcome for our industry, delivering certainty and stability, respecting our players, and allowing the AFL to invest in the future" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 6/21).
'GENUINE PARTNERS': In Melbourne, Michael Warner reported AFL Players' Association President Matthew Pavlich said that it was a "landmark day for the playing fraternity." Pavlich: "For the first time, players are now genuine partners of the game. And, for the first time, players' wages will be tied to AFL revenue." An "overwhelming" 99.2% of players approved of the AFL’s increased offer "amid threats of industrial action." Players, led by AFLPA board members Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Scott Pendlebury, Leigh Montagna and Easton Wood, "had refused to budge on a push for a cut of unforecast cash" (HERALD SUN, 6/20).
MAXIMUM REWARDS: In Melbourne, Jon Pierik reported "cashed-up clubs are poised to splurge" their A$2M ($1.5M) salary cap windfall after the AFL and its players "finally inked" a new deal. With off-contract players Dustin Martin, Josh Kelly and Nat Fyfe "already the focus of million-dollar offers," AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan "greeted the landmark collective bargaining agreement by suggesting the extra money should reward superstar talent." McLachlan said that "star players deserved maximum rewards." He said, "I think the star players deserve everything they get." However, for players to "immediately share in the spoils, they will need a clause in their current contracts enabling them to get the rise." Marsh said that only 50% of players had this clause (THE AGE, 6/20).
