Aussie rules wages boost increases lure for Irish players

AFLW players will see their wages jump by 78%, with male salaries rising by 34%

Callum Brown of the Giants celebrates a goal during the round 19 AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Gold Coast Suns at Manuka Oval, on July 23, 2023, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

The lure of AFL and AFLW for Irish players is set to increase with news of a AUS$2.2 billion (€1.32bn) pay deal in Australia.

Currently at $46,000 (€27,690) per season, the average AFLW wage is set to jump by over 78% by the end of 2027 to $82,000 (€49,350) with the regular season set to stretch to 10 games.

In what could be interpreted as worrying for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, AFLW players will soon receive 12-month contracts and the ability to sign multi-year contracts.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will also see the men’s average wage improve from $387,000 (€232,930) to $519,000 (€312,380) by the end of 2027, a boost of 34%.

“The new CBA provides certainty to the players for both competitions,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan. “Our AFLW players receive another immediate boost after an historic 94% increase last season.

“And the opportunity is ahead of the competition to continue to grow in length if we can reach some key support metrics that have been achieved before. Together we will focus on expanding crowds and TV audience for the women’s competition while working to engage more women and girls to take up football.” 

Currently, 33 Irish players are on AFLW contracts, although some are short-term. In the male game, there were 11 at the outset of the season but Meath’s Cian McBride left Essendon in August.

Rookies for the 2024 season include Rob Monaghan and Matthew Duffy, who have signed for Carlton with Ballincollig’s Liam O’Connell having agreed to play for fellow Melbourne club St Kilda.

Meanwhile, Derry’s Callum Brown is on the interchange bench for Greater Western Sydney Giants against Collingwood in Friday’s AFL preliminary final (10.50am Irish time start).

In the other last-four game on Saturday (8.15 am), Tyrone’s 2021 All-Ireland SFC winner Conor McKenna will be a key player for Brisbane Lions as they take on Carlton. McKenna will start in the half-back line. Kilkenny’s Darragh Joyce is listed on the Lions’ emergency list.

Earlier this week, McKenna, an ever-present for his side this season, signed a new two-year deal with the Queensland club having impressed since his return to the Australian game last November.

Brisbane are looking to claim their first AFL crown since 2003 whereas Carlton’s previous triumph came in 1995. Only founded in 2012, the Giants are seeking a second-ever final appearance while Collingwood want to bridge a 13-year gap to their previous “premier”.