AFLW Salary Cap here we come. (and anything to do with player contracts)

[TigermanM2]

Salary cap introduced to AFLW as League announces revamped team​

Laura Kane will head a bolstered AFLW administration team that will include former Queensland boss Trish Squires

By Sarah Black
Mar 31, 2026, 4:30 pm

THE AFL will now formally recognise AFLW at its executive level, with a restructure of roles that will see Laura Kane oversee a new-look team.

In the first change under Kane's leadership, the AFL has confirmed the introduction of a salary cap for the AFLW, as previously flagged by AFL.com.au at the start of February.

Kane was previously responsible for football operations at the executive level, but the League's greater investment in AFLW will see her assume the new role of executive general manager of AFLW, health and football operations.

Emma Moore, who previously held the role of general manager of AFLW, will now focus one area of the wider AFLW space as general manager AFLW growth, and report into Kane.

The current head of AFL Queensland and International, Trish Squires, will head up the other stream of AFLW as head of AFLW operations.

Moore's role will focus on AFLW commercial aspects and fan development, with a new team opened up under her remit.

The operations team under Squires will cover attendances and venues, among other areas.

The football performance area under Greg Swann has also been given a direct AFLW resource, with Lou Caluzzi appointed AFLW football performance manager, having previously focused on player movement across men's and women's competitions.

Caluzzi's remit includes on-field development, competitive balance and football data, working closely with clubs as they continue to build their AFLW programs.

The restructure will take effect immediately.

"AFLW has evolved significantly over its first 10 seasons. The game is improving, women and girls’ participation is strong and the infrastructure continues to build. The competition both on and off the field is stronger than ever before, but there is still work to be done," AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.

"We want everyone to love and connect with Australia’s game, specifically, we want AFLW to become Australia’s leading women’s sport so we are investing in the right areas to support our clubs, our players and fans, as we continue to build a strong and sustainable future.

"This new leadership structure, alongside increased investment in growth and operations, will see the competition better positioned than ever to have more people engaged in AFLW."

Given the salary cap in 2027 will be used in the final year of the current CBA, it will effectively be a "soft launch", with the total player payment pool unchanged from what was previously agreed.

Clubs will be able to either underspend or overspend on their cap from 2028, while they can also offer incentives for best and fairest achievements.

Ratchet clauses (e.g. increasing payment by x if the salary cap increases by y) can now be included in contracts which expire beyond the end of 2027, into the new CBA, if signed from this point in time onwards.

"The new player payment framework has been designed collaboratively by the AFL and AFLPA to provide greater contracting flexibility in the future for clubs and players alike," Kane said.

"This is a positive step forward for the competition and I’d like to thank the AFLPA for their collaboration and support."

AFLW pre-season begins on Monday, May 11, with a pre-season draft to be held on Monday, May 4.

 

[TigermanM2]

The new way AFLW clubs can lock away players beyond CBA's end​

A new mechanism is allowing clubs are able to sign AFLW players beyond 2027
https://www.afl.com.au/authors/1371993/sarah-black
By Sarah Black
Apr 8, 2026, 12:00 pm

Eden Zanker celebrates a goal during round one, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

SEEN a few big AFLW re-signing announcements of late?

After years of contracts capped until the end of 2027 (the final year of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement), clubs and players are taking tentative steps to sign agreements beyond the cut-off.

Eden Zanker at Fremantle was one of the first public announcements, signing a deal to the end of 2029 as part of her trade from Melbourne.

Eden Zanker in action during Melbourne's clash with Brisbane in AFLW round 11, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

New teammate Sarah Verrier signed till 2028, then developing Carlton star and South Australian Poppy Scholz signed a deal for 2029, and Brisbane livewire Belle Dawes was locked away for 2028.

But with no CBA in place beyond 2027, how are these deals being done? Why? What's the risk of a long-term deal in the AFLW? How does the new salary cap affect matters?

And how does Tasmania fit into it all?

Belle Dawes in action during the 2025 NAB AFLW Grand Final. Picture: AFL Photos

A memo was sent from the AFL to clubs at the end of November last year, laying out how contracts could now be submitted beyond 2027.

There are essentially currently three groups of contracts:

• Those signed until the end of 2026 and 2027 (the vast majority of players)
• Those signed in the past few months (pre-salary cap), that go beyond the end of 2027 (Zanker, Scholz etc)
• Those which will be signed post the introduction of the salary cap in 2027, and will go beyond one season

For the group who have extended beyond the end of 2027, but signed before the introduction of the salary cap, their payment is based on existing tier amounts. These contracts are binding (as is the case for men's contracts), despite the absence of a CBA for a portion of the time-frame.

Poppy Scholz celebrates a goal during the AFLW Preliminary Final between Brisbane and Carlton at Brighton Homes Arena on November 22, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos

Future contracts can now include a "ratchet clause" to allow contracts to be increased by an agreed amount, in the case the total player payment limit goes up by a certain amount.

Signing beyond the CBA's end may be done for a number of reasons for both the player and club. It provides players with an additional layer of security, which could be particularly important for those who have moved interstate, are planning future study or looking to buy a property.

What about Tasmania?

Recruiting duo Todd Patterson and Cody Baker worked together at Melbourne, and are known for their nous and ability to land deals. Patterson has worked in the AFLW space from its very beginnings, and has networks across the country.

Clubs will be able to protect roughly six players from Tasmania in rules released at the end of last year, although it could be as little as three or as high as 12 depending on competitive balance.

If contracted players are not within that protected bracket, they can take up a Devils contract should they wish to do so.

This means that if Tasmania offer a contract to Scholz, and she's not in Carlton's protected players, she could choose to move, despite the fact she's signed to the Blues till 2029.