AFLW draft will be fully national for first time with players to be available to all 18 clubs

The AFL Players Association has conceded it’s the “right time” for all clubs to have equal access to players to strengthen the AFLW after confirmation the next draft would transition to a fully national model for the first time.

That ensures all nominees are available to be selected by any of the 18 clubs.

It comes after 70 per cent of draft nominees entered the national draft pool on an opt-in basis in 2023, indicating more and more players were willing to move to any club and not just those in their home state.

That number included 12 of the top 16 selections and this year all clubs will have access to the best players in the draft.

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Last year’s No.1 pick for the Western Bulldogs, Kristie-Lee Wesson-Turner. Wayne Taylor Credit: News Corp Australia

The shift aligns with a massive 20 per cent bump in payments for AFLW players, with players able to earn upwards of $80,000, and the average wage increasing to just more than $67,000 under the collective bargaining agreement.

“Now is the right time for the AFLW competition to progress to a wholly national draft, giving players greater freedom of opportunity and clubs improved access to talent across the country,” the AFLPA head of AFLW Julia Chiera said.

“While players have previously had the option to join a national draft pool, it was important that first-year players were protected from having to uproot their lives without sufficient remuneration.

“Pleasingly, due to the recent collective bargaining agreement, AFLW minimum wages will increase to $67,337 in 2025, and when coupled with improved relocation allowances and the security of a two-year contract, all drafted players will have greater capacity to establish themselves in their new club’s community and give them the best chance to hit the ground running in their football careers.”

2023 AFLW draft first round picks. Back: Alyssia Pisano, Cleo Buttifant, Mikayla Williamson, Sophie Peters and Brooke Barwick. Front: Elaine Grigg, Jessica Rentsch, Evie Long, Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Kaitlyn Srhoj, Piper Window and Lila Keck. Wayne Taylor Credit: News Corp Australia

The change was endorsed at Tuesday’s AFL Commission meeting following support from the AFL Players Association and the AFLW Competition Committee, with the introduction of minimum two-year contracts for new draftees set to begin at the 2024 draft.

AFL football operations boss Laura Kane said it was an evolution for the AFLW and a major step towards greater competitive balance.

“As the league continues to evolve, we’re seeing more draftees willing to chase their football dreams by moving interstate,” Kane said.

“An AFLW draftee from this year can earn up to $83,837 in salary and relocation allowances.

“This transition coincides with an increase of investment in talent pathways, meaning the players coming through the ranks are more prepared for elite-level footy than ever before.

“This will allow our rising stars to be more equally spread across the league, fast-tracking the improvement of developing sides and strengthening the competitive balance of the competition.”

The AFLW draft will be held in December.