AFLW players return to training with no pay deal and uncertainty over new season

AFLW players return to their clubs for pre-season this week with no pay deal confirmed and no idea how the 2023 season will look except that it will start in early September.

The exact date for round one has not been announced – though it is expected to be the first weekend of September – nor do players know whether last year’s 10-game format will be repeated for the league’s eighth season or what other rule changes may be on the cards.

The joint AFL-AFLW collective bargaining agreement is still being negotiated, with the players’ association pushing for 12-month playing contracts for AFLW players instead of the current nine-month deals.

Carlton captain Kerryn Peterson said the sooner 12-month contracts happen, the better.

“It just is going to provide a lot of stability for our players,” she said.

Year-round insurance cover for injuries is one factor, but Peterson said the biggest issue a 12-month contract would help address is juggling employment.

“Going to an employer saying, ‘can I be employed full time for this period of the year but then only part time for this part of the year,’ there’s only so many employers that have that level of flexibility within their workforce,” she said.

Peterson is a physiotherapist but has cut back her hours to focus on football.

“I’ve gone from a permanent part-time role, dropping back to casual hours to allow me the flexibility and the time that is required to be an AFLW player, and being captain as well there’s a lot of added responsibilities that are very time consuming,” she said.

“As AFLW demands have increased year on year really, employment outside of footy has become harder and harder to maintain.”

Peterson has been able to pick up extra work at Carlton doing coaching and