AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan was among a number of key AFL stakeholders who met with AFLW player delegates on Monday as the league and its players move closer to settling on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
In a statement, the AFL confirmed McLachlan, AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh, AFL general manager of football Steve Hocking, head of women’s football Nicole Livingstone and AFLPA members had met with AFLW player delegates to discuss a number of topics regarding a proposed CBA.
Earlier this month, the AFLPA and the AFLW players returned to the negotiating table after only 70 per cent of players voted in favour of a proposed CBA, covering the next three seasons of the competition. The vote required 75 per cent of players’ approval to pass.
Before that CBA was rejected, it emerged that a group of players – concerned at a perceived lack of consultation by the AFLPA – had engaged workers’ rights firm Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Following Monday’s meeting, players look set to vote on a CBA in the next two weeks, with players selected in Tuesday’s AFLW draft set to also be included in the voting process.
“There is no doubt everyone involved in women’s football are aligned on the key goal of creating a strong, sustainable and successful AFLW competition,” McLachlan said in a statement.
“Our game has been so well served by the many women who have fought hard over the years and been so instrumental in getting us to where we are as a competition. We welcome and appreciate the commitment, passion and openness of the current playing group in advocating for greater opportunities for female players.
“Today’s meeting was an important discussion, especially to hear directly from representatives of the playing group and to listen to their concerns, and to be able to provide greater clarity and certainty around those issues that they can relay to the wider AFLW playing group.”