Re: AFLW - Contract Dispute
Reply #15 –
My personal opinion.
We discussed this a couple of seasons back, there were clear signs that factions within the AFLW and the AFLPA were putting the $ cart before the horse. They want big dollars now, despite not really generating any income for the sport, at the moment they are a cost and part-timers.
This whole philosophical debate, the idea full-time professionalism has to come before the women's game can be profitable is bogus. Bring the sport at a high level, looking and playing professionally, and the dollars follow, not the other way around.
Unfortunately as I see it, what the AFLW girls need to accept is that those that come after them will benefit from their efforts while they may not. For those currently involved, it's both good and bad time, because they will be foundation members and legends, but they won't profit. I suppose it's no different to Bobby Skilton looking at Buddy Franklin!
The disagreement is about the length of the season and has little to do with remuneration. The dissenting group want a longer season.